Loudonville Elementary 

School 

   

  

   

Family Handbook   2020-2021 

   

  

 Fall 2020  Dear Families,   

Welcome back to school! We are so happy to be back! As you know,                           we concluded last school year at home with online instruction and                     apart from our Loudonville School family for over six months. During                     these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience and                 understanding as we work through the increasing changes and                 challenges associated with COVID-19. Please know, our number one                 priority will always be student health and safety and we want your                       child to love school and learning.  

We share our Handbook with you, in a revised format for the                       2020-2021 school year. The District’s reopening plan can be found at;                     https://www.northcolonie.org/about-us/north-colonie-reopening-plan/ At this time, schools will not be using shared spaces. For example,                       students will not travel to the Music or the Art room, cafeteria,                       Learning Commons, Library, or the auditorium. We are working through                   these limitations. Special area teachers will be visiting classrooms to                   work with students. We will still be holding school assemblies but they                       will be recorded and shared electronically with teachers to share with                     students in their own rooms.  

Students and staff will be required to wear masks to cover their                       nose and face throughout the day. We have increased our sanitization                     stations throughout the building. Students will have their own supplies                   to utilize as well as their own electronic devices. We will continue to                         encourage healthy hygiene habits and social distancing. Our goal is to                     keep everyone healthy so we can remain in school! As things change,                       rest assured that we will keep you updated. If you have any questions                         at any time, please feel free to reach out to us.   Sincerely,   Mrs. Abbey North, Principal 

 Important Numbers 

 Loudonville School Main Office   434-1960  

Mrs. Abbey North, Principal      Loudonville School Fax 434-0739  Loudonville Health Office Fax   434-0656  Mrs. Denise Towne,    785-9486  District Transportation Department     District Central Office   785-8591  

Administration  

Mr. D. Joseph Corr, Superintendent  785-8591  

Ms. Kathy Skeals, Deputy Superintendent  785-8591 

Mr. Casey Bardin, Director of Pupil Services  785-5511 x 3144  Mrs. Amber Manke, Assistant Director of Pupil Services 785-8591 x 3121  Mr. Matthew Stein, Director of P.E., Athletics and Health   785-5511 x 3351   

 Mrs. Anne Manzella, District Art Supervisor     785-5511 x 3365 

 Mrs. Deb Keough, District Music Supervisor   785-5511 x 3365

 Mr. Brian Dineen, District Director of Teaching,    785-5511 x 3196  Learning and Innovation & Principal of Remote School      

  

  

   

NCCS and Loudonville School www.northcolonie.org 

Loudonville School continues to use web-based communication tools to keep                   families up to date. Important information is presented on the district website                       and on our school webpage. We utilize School Messenger for weekly communication                       as well as Twitter. Follow us on Twitter at: @LoudonvilleES. We share important                         messages, information about schedules/changes, as well as day to day photos of                       the fun we have at school! The information you need is accessible and available to                             you when you need it by putting it all in one easy to access location. That location                                 is: www.northcolonie.org   

Inside www.northcolonie.org  

Use the District page for: 

  

● NYS Education information ● District News Headlines ● District Wide departments, 

policies, calendar, transportation 

● Board of Education information  

● Infinite Campus: Confidential and secure Web based access to your child’s attendance, schedules, NYS Assessments, grading information and immunizations. 

  

Use the school page for: 

  

● Teacher Web Sites (Check weekly) 

● School News Headlines (Check weekly) 

● Staff contact information ● Go Math Think Central: Print 

math homework sheets, access interactive math practice tools. Go Math Think Central is the online extension of the math publisher that is part of your child’s curriculum.  

● Signup Genius: Parent/Teacher Conference and Volunteer Sign Ups 

● Calendar ● PTA programs, newsletter, 

forms ● School building procedures ● Student/Parent Handbook ● School Lunch Menus ● Infinite Campus 

 

  

Loudonville Staff Principal  Mrs. Abbey North 

Building Assistant  Mrs. Jean Rinaldi Secretary  Mrs. Maryann Pelletier Substitute Receptionist  Ms. Terrie Maguire School Nurse  Mrs. Deb Dopp Kindergarten   Mrs. Trish Vecchione 

Mrs. Julie Marion Partner Teacher: Mrs. Heather Rizzo 

First Grade  Ms. Bianca Stinney Miss Madison Manuel Mrs. Shannon Ostwald 

Second Grade  Ms. Diana Mattingly Mrs. Jennifer Edmunds Partner Teacher: Miss Erin Murray 

Third Grade  Mrs. Erin Yerdon Mrs. Donna Chittenden Partner Teacher: Miss Jackie Kavana 

Cafeteria:  Mr. Art Couser Educational Aides:  Mrs. Andrea Burnham, Ms. Shirley Carter, 

Mrs. Karin Elder, Mrs. Kim Kelley, Mr. Gary Czuptil 

Speech and Language  Mrs. Stephanie Fitzgerald Occupational Therapy  Ms. Margaret D’Andrea (shared) Physical Therapy  Ms. Susan Truitt (shared) Art  Miss Madeline Conley (LOA) 

Mrs. Kathryn Stankey Physical Education  Mr. Ron Beadouin  Music  Miss Maria Southworth Library  Ms. Jamie Holmes Special Education Teachers  Miss Courtney Hilliard 

Miss Melissa Frank ENL  Miss Nicole Woodcock (shared) School Counselor  Mrs. Sarah Conway School Social Worker  Mr. Marvin Horne (shared) School Psychologist  Mrs. Kathy Leavens (shared)  

Custodians:  Mr. Daniel Wheland, Mr. Joseph Mitola and 

Mr. Rob Bowen Instructional Coaches:  Ms. Kieran Ryan – E.L.A./Social Studies 

and Mrs. Laura Salinetti – Math/Science Library Aide:  Mr. Jeffrey Horton Noon Aides:  Ms. Erika Carlo, Ms. Elizabeth Fowler, Mrs. 

Rhonda Doherty, Mr. Ed Martenis 

  

 Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe! 

 Classroom: Always follow classroom expectations and routines. 

Be Safe  Be Respectful  Be Responsible  

● Keep your hands, feet, body and objects to yourself 

● Report all unsafe behavior to an adult 

● Use materials safely ● Always get adult 

permission before leaving a room/area 

● Wear your mask unless you are eating. 

● Stay 6 feet apart from others. 

● Follow directions the first time they are given.  

● Speak kindly to others. ● Respect each other’s 

personal space and belongings.  

● Be prepared ● Do your best ● Be present ● Focus during lessons ● Use the expected voice 

level 

 Hallway: Always follow hallway expectations and routines.  

Be Safe  Be Respectful  Be Responsible  

● Walk in line on the right side. Follow the arrows. 

● Keep your hands at your sides.  

● Keep your body in your own space.  

● Stay with your class or buddy.  ● Stay socially distanced in the 

hallway. ● Wear your mask! 

● No voices in the hallway 

● Follow directions the first time they are given. 

● Be ready before you leave the room.  

● Keep your spot in line.  ● Go directly to where 

you need to go.  

 School Bus: Always follow school bus expectations and routines.  

Be Safe  Be Respectful  Be Responsible  

● Go to your assigned seat ● Wear your mask ● Stay seated in your seat ● Use a low voice level.  ● Keep hands, feet, and 

body to yourself.  ● Keep food and drink in 

your backpack.  ● Pay attention when 

getting on or off the bus.  

● Follow directions the first time they are given.  

● Speak and treat others with respect.  

● Speak and act kindly. ● Respect each other’s 

personal space.  

● Follow all bus rules.  ● Keep track of your 

belongings.  ● Keep the bus clean.  ● Be ready when arriving 

at your bus stop.  ● See something, say 

something to an adult.  

Please note, for the 20-21 school year, students will not be allowed to ride home with friends or change transportation preferences daily. If you have opted to transport your child to school, they 

will NOT be assigned a bus. If your child rides a bus and you need to pick them up from school 

instead, please send in a note including your child’s name, the date, their teacher’s name, and the name and phone number of the person who will be picking them up. Thank you! 

 

Recess: Always follow recess expectations and routines *Each pod will have a recess period daily* Students will remain with their pod* 

Be Safe  Be Respectful  Be Responsible  

● Keep your body in control.  

● Use equipment as expected.  

● Stay in assigned area ● Remain socially 

distanced ● Masks must be worn on 

the playground 

● Take turns ● Show good 

sportsmanship ● Include everyone ● Respond to adults 

immediately.  

● Report unsafe behavior or equipment to an adult.  

● Dress appropriately  

 Allergy Awareness  

Food allergies/anaphylaxis can be life threatening. The risk of accidental                   exposure to foods or other allergens (bee stings) can be reduced in the school                           setting if schools work with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks                       and provide a safe educational environment for allergic students. The District is                       completely peanut/tree-nut free for the 2020-2021 school year. Students will be                     washing their hands before and after lunch and eating in their classrooms.  

   

Attendance  Students are required to attend school daily between 10 a.m. and 2:45/3:15 p.m. A                           written note signed by a parent, guardian, or doctor is required upon the                         student’s return to school. The note should include the date of the absence and                           the reason. If a note is not sent in, the absence will be considered illegal. (Policy                               No. 5100). Parents must notify the main office each day their child is absent.                           Please call us if you know your child will be out. Voicemail is available 24 hours a                                 day. It is very important that we are able to account for students.  When a child                               does not come to school and a parent has not called to report an absence, we                               become concerned about the safety of the child.  Therefore, please call the school                         at 518-434-1960 or send an email to mpelletier@ncolonie.org,               debrawalsh@ncolonie.org, and ddopp@ncolonie.org, to report your child’s absence               or tardiness each day they are absent or tardy. If a child is absent and waiting                               to be seen by a doctor or waiting for results of a COVID test, assignments and                               school work will be posted in their Google Classroom.   

Birthday Celebrations Students may not bring birthday treats to share with classmates. Birthdays are                       announced on the morning announcements each day and students will receive a                       special birthday certificate & prize presented by Mrs. North.  

 

Breakfast and Lunch Programs You may have previously used www.K12PaymentCenter.com to access your child’s                   meal account, but now the website is new and improved, with more features that                           make it easier to manage your child’s account. If you already have an online                           payment account, just login with your current login credentials. All of your                       information will be transferred over. If you haven’t used the website before, go to                           www.K12PaymentCenter.com and click “Register Now” to create an account. Select                   North Colonie CSD from the drop-down lists of school districts, fill in your                         information, input your credit or debit card information and you’re ready to go!                         Note that you will need your child’s student ID number; simply contact us for their                             ID number and with any other questions you may have. 

For more information, go to www.K12PaymentCenter.com or call the North Colonie CSD at 518-785-8591 ext.3141. https://www.k12paymentcenter.com/HowDoesTheProgramWork.aspx   The cost of lunch is $2.95 Milk is $ .60. Students who qualify for reduced meals                               may have lunch free of charge. If there are questions contact the Food Service                           Office at 518-786-8856.    

Change of Address and/or Phone # Please notify the main office as soon as possible when a change of phone number                             occurs. In addition, the Central Registrar needs to be notified in the event of an                             address change. The main office cannot make address changes. All changes to                       mailings are generated through the Central Registrar. That number is 785-8591                     ext. 3135. The Campus Portal now allows parents to update their phone numbers                         and email addresses. The “Household Information” area accepts updates to                   household phones while the Family Members area accepts email addresses and                     phone numbers such as cell and work numbers for parents and guardians. Please                         log in to the Campus Portal today and insure your contact information is correct.                           Please also notify the school if there is a change in custody arrangements. We do                             request a copy of legally binding custody arrangements.  

Emergency School Closings School closings are announced via School Messenger, the district Facebook and                     Twitter pages, the District website, and local TV and radio stations. Follow us on                           Twitter @LoudonvilleES.  

Fire and Safety Drills Throughout the year we hold fire/emergency drills. The fire drills are signaled by a                           hall siren, while other drills are announced over the loudspeaker. We have 12                         safety drills each year. Safety drills will look a bit different this year. The new                             procedures will be reviewed with your children.  

 

Guidelines for Student Attire Students are encouraged to wear school spirit wear/ school shirts anytime they                       wish. We hope everyone will wear school shirts on Fridays throughout the year.                         Students are required to attend school in appropriate dress that meets health                       and safety standards and does not negatively impact the educational                   environment. This policy is intended to balance a student’s constitutional free                     speech with the District’s obligation to provide for a safe and healthy learning                         environment free of substantial disruption. It is written as Loudonville School’s                     application of Board of Education policy #5311.5.  Provided here is clarification on what is appropriate school attire: ★ Students should be covered from shoulders to mid-thigh, except for arms. ★ Shorts and skirts must be mid-thigh length or longer. ★ No undergarments, such as boxer shorts, camisoles, or bra straps/spaghetti                   

straps should be visible; clothes that reveal undergarments should not be                     worn. 

★ Head wear (except for those of a religious or cultural nature) and                       sunglasses are not to be worn in the building. 

★ Sneakers are most appropriate footwear for school; flip flops and sandals                     without heel straps should not be worn to school. 

★ Certain categories of clothing have been held to be impermissible by the                       Commissioner of Education. Impermissible clothing includes attire that:               presents a risk to the health and safety of the student and/or others,                         creates the possibility of damage to school property, is indecent or obscene,                       or creates distraction that interferes with the learning and teaching                   process. 

★ Wearing clothes that include an expression (phrase, word or words) or                     insignia (picture, symbol, patch or pin) that is in any of the following                         categories is forbidden: obscene or libelous, contains an objectionable                 message, offensive or harassing language, advocates prejudice towards any                 race, religion, culture, national origin, disability or any protected group under                     the Dignity for All Students Act, displays or advocates the use of alcohol,                         tobacco, or controlled substances, advocates violence or threatening               behavior.   

Classroom teachers have an educational obligation to encourage appropriate                 dress. If necessary, the school principal/nurse may direct students to change                     their attire to meet these building-wide expectations. We ask for your help in                         promoting and communicating what constitutes appropriate clothing for a school                   environment. 

 

Health Services  

First aid is rendered according to procedures recommended for dealing with                     sudden illness or accident. The school may not diagnose or give treatment since                         this lies within the province of the family physician. If there is a need for the                               administration of medication in school, please contact the school nurse so that                       appropriate arrangements may be discussed with your family physician. STUDENTS                   ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CARRY MEDICATION IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR                   SELF-ADMINISTRATION. (Unless under specific circumstances with physician orders)   

If your child requires special attention or privileges in school due to some                         temporary or permanent physical disability or illness, please advise the                   classroom teacher and the school nurse.  The following is the Procedure of the North Colonie Central School District’s Health Services Department in an effort to decrease or control illness/communicable illnesses: **** Please see guidance from Our COVID coordinator regarding protocols for                     COVID as well as the documents below  

   

 

  

  Please take universal precautions with your children. Remind them never to share                       combs, hats, hair ribbons etc. Caution should be taken with sleepovers,                     intramurals and PE classes. If you think you may have a head lice problem, please                             have your child seen by their physician or health care provider and inform the                           Health Office at once.  

Immunization Requirements: The following is a brief overview of the immunizations required prior to school entrance. These requirements and the accompanying guidelines are extracted from the New York State Education Department Regulations and Public Health Law 2164-d. ***** Please note, for remote learning, the following guidelines are in place for remote learners as well as in person learners : Per the NYSDOH School Assessment and Compliance Unit: At this time, the NYSDOH is not issuing exceptions for immunizations because of COVID-19. The Department's stance continues to be that students missing vaccine doses for any reason must comply with Public Health Law Section 2164 requirements. Children entering or attending school in New York State, including summer school and distance learning, must comply with said requirements. All children attending schools in New York State must be properly immunized as follows below (See specifics for unvaccinated children at the following website: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370.pdf)

•3-5 doses Diphtheria Toxoid vaccine –4 doses (if the 4th dose of DTaP was administered at age 4 years or older, then the fifth (booster) is not necessary. 3 doses if the series is started at 7 years of age or older •3-4 doses Polio vaccine (OPV and/or IPV) If 3 doses were administered before age 4 years,an additional dose should be received at age 4-6 years. For children 7 years or older who have previously received less than 3 doses, a total of 3 doses are required •2 doses MMR given no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday •2 doses First Varicella given no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday •2 doses Varicella vaccine (Chickenpox) for students in grades K-4, and 6-10, all others need one dose •3 doses Hepatitis B vaccine (with third dose given at or after 6months of age)

***The 2 dose adult Recombivax Hepatitis B series for students 11-15 years of age meets the requirements for Hepatitis B

•1 dose Tetanus toxoid containing vaccine and Pertussis vaccine (Only required for students enrolling in grades 6-12 who have not previously received a Tdap at 7 years of age or older).

•1 dose Meningococcal vaccine for students in grades 7, 8, 9 ,10 •1 dose Meningococcal (booster) vaccine for students entering 12th grade and no more than 4 days prior to

their 16th birthday ( or older ) Prior to beginning classes, an immunization record documented (or certification of having the disease) by a physician or other authorized person who administered the vaccine must be presented. Your child may be excluded from school if this documentation is not provided. The record must specify the immunizations and the exact dates of their administration. Students may be exempt from these requirements if their physician states such immunizations would be detrimental to their health. OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION You are strongly urged to see that your child has a complete physical and dental examination by your family physician and dentist before entrance into school. A school health form is available for this purpose from the school nurse for your family physician. Additionally, when entering school for the first time and again in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, all students will require a physical examination. Although the form must be returned by the end of September, an examination administered not more than twelve months prior to commencement of the school year in which the examination is required, will be accepted. All students requiring a physical will also be requested to present a dental health certificate within the first 30 days of school; such dental health certificate must be signed by a duly licensed dentist who is authorized by law to practice in this state. You are encouraged to see your family pediatrician. If this is not possible, an appraisal may be completed by our school physician. Please contact the school nurse in your elementary building if you have any questions. Each year the school nurse conducts a school health appraisal consisting of the following: vision screening and hearing screening in required grade levels

based on NYSED mandates. Scoliosis screening is done on all girls in 5th and 7th grades and for boys in 9th grade. Parents will be notified ONLY when any condition meriting concern is found. If parents wish to inquire about the findings they may contact their school nurse. ***for the 2020-21 school year the school nurse screenings have been put on hold, however if you have concerns contact the nurse for individual screening. 

 Infinite Campus 

Infinite Campus is our student/data management system. You can view your child’s progress reports and report cards as well as update family information.   To access your Infinite Campus account: https://nccsic.ncolonie.org/campus/portal/northcolonie.jsp.     

Parent Drop-Off and Pick-up Arrival: 

● Parent drop off is from 9:45-10:00 each day. Please enter the building                       through the assigned entrance (1, 2, or 3). The door supervisors are at the                           entrances until 10 a.m. After 10 a.m. students must come to the front                         entrance with a parent/guardian to sign them in. Busses will begin arriving                       at 9:30 a.m.  

All NCCS elementary schools operate on a 6-day rotation for the scheduling of                         special area classes. The days in the rotation are fixed (they do not change in                             the case of a snow day/school closing). The days in the rotation can be found on                               the district website/ calendar.  Dismissal:  

● Announcements: 2:40 p.m.  ● Parent pick up: 2:45-3:05 (at assigned door 1, 2, or 3). Please remember 

to socially distance yourself from others. Please wear a mask! Thank you for your patience, as we safely navigate new dismissal procedures. 

Last names beginning with...  Drop off & pick up door 

A-H  1 

I-O  2 

P-Z  3  

● CYC dismissal: 3:05-3:10 ● Bus dismissal: 3:15 

  

PTA The Loudonville School PTA meets monthly. All general meetings begin at 6:30                       p.m. and will be held over zoom. For information about PTA activities, visit                         https://loudonvillepta.membershiptoolkit.com. Although we are limited in our             activities this school year, the PTA plans to offer several programs throughout                       the year in a safe manner. Stay tuned! 

 Report Cards (Gr. K-6)

Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3

9/14-12/14

12/15-3/26

3/29- 6/25

Interims

10/27

Report cards 12/15

Interims

2/4

Report cards 3/26

Interims

5/14

Report cards

6/25

 Students Rights and Responsibilities 

A “Rights and Responsibilities” pamphlet is distributed to all students at the                       beginning of each school year. Please refer to the district website for additional                         and current information regarding the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Our                       district is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment for                       all students in every school, every year!    Loudonville School Expectations: Each student in the Loudonville School community is responsible for: 

1. Show respect for all people and their property. 2. Follow social distancing protocols.  3. Follow traffic arrows in the hallway.  4. Wear your mask at all times except when eating breakfast, snack, or lunch.                         

Students do not need to wear a mask on the playground. Students will also                           be provided mask breaks throughout the day as directed by their teacher. 

5. Show respect for school property by maintaining classroom materials and                   personal learning spaces.   

6. Do your best work without disturbing others. 7. Use appropriate and polite language at all times, especially when opinions                     

differ. Behavior: Each adult and student is expected to be responsible for his/her own                         behavior. These responsibilities focusing on personal safety and respect for the                     rights and property of others, apply in all areas of the school, the building,                           throughout the school grounds and on the school bus. Masks are required by                         everyone in the building. Social distancing protocols are in place.  

Safety: Being conscious of good safety practices is especially important when                     entering or leaving school. Students are to walk slowly and watch where they are                           going. Running in the hallways is not permitted at any time. Parents and visitors                           will not be allowed in the building. If you are picking up your child, please come to                                 the front main entrance and someone will greet you.  Smoking, Drugs, and Weapons: Smoking is prohibited in school and on school                       grounds at all times. Possession and/or use of alcohol and illegal drugs is strictly                           forbidden. Firearms, knives, and weapons of any kind (including toys or props) are                         never allowed on school property. Violation of these rules will be considered a                         serious offense and will result in suspension from school. Personal Possessions: Personal items such as: all toys, iPods, iPads, Kindles,                     phones, hand-held electronic games, Pokemon cards, Bakugan cards, baseball                 cards, special collections, skateboards, scooters etc. should not be brought to                     school. These items present a significant distraction. The school is not                     responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Possessing or using cell phones or                         electronic communication devices in school or on the school buses is prohibited.                       (See Handbook of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities P. 16)   Students who violate school expectations (rules) will be subject to disciplinary                     action. Consequences will be appropriate to the seriousness of the offense. 

 Visitors 

Parents/guardians/visitors are not permitted in the building at this time. If you                       need to pick up your child or drop something off, please come to the front main                               door (flag pole) and someone will greet you.  

       

 

Handbook 2020-2021 Signature of Understanding 

Please RETURN to your child’s teacher by September 21, 2020 

  My child and I understand and have read the rules and guidelines in the                           Loudonville Elementary School Handbook. Adhering to the rules and guidelines will                     help ensure that our school is a safe place to learn and play. 

  

Please sign and return this page to your child’s teacher  

  I, _______________________________ have read the handbook 

(parent’s name) 

with my child.   I, _______________________________ have read the handbook  

(child’s name) with my parent.   

   

Child’s Name: ______________________/ Teacher: __________   

Date:__________Parent Signature: _____________________