Soaring Heights Charter School Policies

Soaring Heights is committed to creating a calm and safe learning environment. The school has adopted two new policies: Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying and Pupil's Code of Conduct. Please read the following policies:

Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (pdf)

Pupil's Code of Conduct (pdf)

School Hours

School hours are from 7:55 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. each day. Please have your child at school no later than 8:15 a.m. each day. Your child will be considered late if he/she arrives at school after 8:30 a.m. Children should not arrive earlier than 7:55 a.m. or remain on the campus later than 2:45 p.m., unless they are participating in a supervised activity. Supervision WILL NOT be provided for students who arrive before 7:55 a.m. or remain later than 2:45 p.m. The above procedures are designed for the safety and well-being of your child.

Health Requirements

Immunizations: “No Shots, No School.” All students entering for the first time are required to have proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, mumps, measles, chicken pox, and rubella.

Medication: Soaring Heights’ school staff is prohibited from providing or administering any medication, including aspirin, to any students. Students needing occasional medications, such as penicillin, etc, for colds, earaches, and sore throat, are to take these medications at home if possible. Medication that is prescribed three (3) times a day can be given before the student comes to school, after school, and again at bedtime. However, if medication MUST be given at school, it must be personally delivered by the parent and accompanied by a written authorization from a doctor that includes the name of the medication and instructions for its administration (time and dosage).

School Breakfast and Lunch

Send your check or money in a sealed enveloped to the school by the 5th day of every month. Write on the outside envelope the student’s name, grade, and the amount enclosed. If writing a check for more than one child, list each child’s name, grade, and the amount of the check. Students absent on the 5th will follow the above procedure on the next day they attend. Meals may NOT be purchased on a daily basis.

Student Performance and Evaluation

Report Cards will be distributed at the end of each marking period. This is a means of informing parents/guardians of the student’s progress or lack of progress in each subject.

Grade Scale:
A+ = 97 – 100
A = 90 – 96
B+ = 87 – 89
B = 80 – 86
C+ = 77 – 79
C = 70 –76
D = 67 – 69
F = BELOW 67

Progress Reports

Progress reports are a means of communicating to parents/guardians how their children are performing both academically and behaviorally. This will be done in the middle of each marking period.

Discipline

Students are expected to act in a responsible manner at all times. It is not possible, nor is it desirable, to delineate rules covering every possible situation which a student will encounter. Common courtesy and sensitivity to the rights of others will guide students properly in most situations. However, it should be clearly understood that all pupils are held accountable for their actions.

The staff requests parental support in helping maintain appropriate conduct in the school. Children’s behavior should reflect self-respect and consideration for the rights, feelings, and property of others.

Change in Student Information

It is imperative that the school be notified immediately of a change of address, home or office telephone number or of a change in emergency information during the academic school year.

Inclement Weather

When severe weather creates hazardous conditions, the regular school schedule may be suspended to ensure students’ safety. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to monitor news reports via the radio. Announcements are normally broadcast between 6:00 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. on WNBC, Channel 4.

You will receive a telephone call from One Call Now no later than 6:00 a.m. If you change your phone, please notify the school.

Adult Guild

The Adult Guild is a vital part of our school program. We encourage parents to support the Adult Guild by becoming ACTIVE members. A successful school needs the services of the Adult Guild. Meetings are scheduled September – June on the first Thursday of each month.

What You Can Do To Help Your Child Learn

A. Start each day right; a calm beginning at home makes the school day much better.
B. Encourage your child to have a good breakfast and lunch. Make certain that your child sleeps at least eight hours each night.
C. Praise your child each day for something he/she has done. Have a special place to put school work or whatever is brought home.
D. Laugh and talk with your child about school experiences and listen attentively to what is said about your child’s school day experiences.
E. Stress attendance. If the child is ill, home is the best place; otherwise, your child needs to take advantage of every school day.
F. Keep lines of communication open between yourself and your child’s teacher. Inform the teacher of any family situations which could influence your child’s behavior. Also, if he/she is reluctant to go to school, let the teacher know so that together you can find the reason.
G. Take your child to the library and encourage reading for pleasure.
H. Provide pencils, glue, scissors, paper, etc. for your child to use.
I. Work at home with skills taught at school.

Parental Involvement Policy

Soaring Heights Charter School continues to recognize that a child is educated within the partnership that exists between the home and the school. When the child understands that the teachers and parents work together, higher levels of achievement occur. When parents prioritize homework, attendance, good nutrition, all practices that lead to higher levels of wellness and constantly reinforce the importance of education through their actions, children thrive. The ideas and opinions of parents regarding Entitlement allocations are sought and welcomed. Parents are an integral part of field trips, book fairs and other fundraising activities. When the home supports the school with their actions, wonderful things happen for students.

As of September 1, 2010, I am pleased to inform you that every teacher employed at Soaring Heights Charter School is a Highly Qualified Teacher.

Surveillance Awareness

Soaring Heights Charter School has increased security by providing surveillance cameras throughout all classrooms, hallways and the perimeter of the building for the protection of all students and staff.

Physical Education

Physical Education is an integral part of the instructional program. All children will be required to participate unless a doctor’s certificate is presented. Physical Education uniforms and sneakers are required in order for your child to participate.

Textbooks

Textbooks are furnished to your child by the school system on a loan basis and should be treated as borrowed property. Students must pay for textbooks that are lost or damaged.

Fire Drills

Every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of your child during normal school hours. Periodic fire drills are executed to make certain students learn proper safety procedures and adhere to all safety guidelines.

Homework

Homework will be assigned to all students. Students should record their assignments in their Student Planners. This book will help students manage their time and homework. Parents can utilize the homework hotline at 201- 434-2006 to check assignments.

Homework When Absent

When your child is absent from school and needs his/her homework assignment, please call the hotline after 4:00 PM. Books can be picked up in the office at the end of the school day or sent home with another child, if requested.

Special Education and Section 504 Policy

Soaring Heights Charter School provides a free and appropriate education for every child enrolled in the school. Furthermore, the school has procedures in place governing interventions in the general education program. These procedures include convening meetings of the Pupil Assistance Committee when informed, standardized assessments are requested. If such interventions are not effective, these issues may be referred to the school Child Study Team. When appropriate, Child Study Team case managers will make referrals to community agencies. If you have any questions regarding the school’s Section 504 policy and procedures, you may contact Diane Khwaja, Section 504 Coordinator. She may be reached at Soaring Heights, 1 Romar Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305, or by phone at (201) 434-4800.

Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

In order to provide a safe and civil environment necessary for teacher to teach and students to learn and achieve high academic standards, Soaring Heights Charter School prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The school expects students to conduct themselves with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students and school staff, and to treat school facilities and equipment with care. There will be consequences, and appropriate remedial action will be taken in the case of students who commit acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

Beepers and Cell Phones

In complying with New Jersey Statutes, students who do not have expressed written permission from the school Superintendent shall not possess beepers on school property at any time. Violation of this law will result in seizure of the beeper by school personnel or police, and the forfeiture of same.

Students who bring a cell phone with them to school may not use it while school is in session. Cell phones must be brought to the office at the beginning of the day and picked up at dismissed.

Policy Prohibiting Threats of Violence

Students are prohibited from making remarks which threaten violence or which use the following or similar words or gestures: kill, die, murder, shoot, gun, knife, stab, blow-up, choke. Such remarks or actions shall not be directed at a specific individual or a group of individuals while students attend Soaring Heights Charter School.

Should a remark or action threatening violence occur, the school will take firm action beginning with a thorough investigation. If the child making the threat is 10 years of age or over, the child’s parents will be advised and, upon the second offense, the police will be notified. In addition, the following action will be taken:

First Offense: the child will receive a two-day out of school suspension, and there will be a meeting with school authorities and the family. The child will be referred to a local mental health agency to determine if there is a need for counseling.

Second Offense: the child will receive a four-day out of school suspension and law enforcement authorities will be notified. The child will be referred to a local mental health agency with the expectation that he/she will enter the therapeutic process.

Third Offense: the child will receive a five-day out of school suspension and law enforcement authorities will be contacted. The child will be referred to a local mental health agency with the expectation that he/she will enter the therapeutic process.

If the child is under 10 years of age, the following action will be taken:

First Offense: the child will receive a two-day out of school suspension, and school authorities will meet with the parents.

Second Offense: the child will receive a three-day out of school suspension and will be referred to a local mental health agency to determine if there is a need for counseling.

Soaring Heights Charter School considers threats of violence an extremely serious matter and will not allow such threats to take place in the learning environment. We request the cooperation of parents/guardians and ask them to make sure their children know that threats of violence will not be tolerated at school.

Sexual Harassment Policy

The following consequences will apply to verbal, written and/or physical acts of sexual harassment:

Policy for a child in grades K-1:

First offense: parents notified; one-half day in-school suspension

Second offense: parents notified; one day in-school suspension

Third offense: parents notified; one day out-of-school suspension. The child must return to school with a parent or parents.

Policy for a child in grades 2-4:

First offense: parents notified; full day in-school suspension

Second offense: parents notified; one day out-of-school suspension

Third offense: parents notified; two day out-of-school suspension. Parent or parents must return to school with the child for a conference.

Policy for a child in grades 5-8:

First offense: parents notified; one day out-of-school suspension

Second offense: parents notified; two day out-of-school suspension. The child cannot return to school without a conference taking place with a parent or parents.

Third offense: an individual plan of action will be developed by the staff and parents, suited to the particular offense.

Support for Families from the New Jersey Department of Education

As parents or guardians, you want nothing more than an excellent education for your children. At the NJ Department of Education, we want nothing more than to help you achieve this! We have created a family-focused web site at www.NJFamilies.com with resources to help you support your child's education, and navigate your school system. We have also opened a "Help Desk" which can be reached through the parent menu option of our toll-free number: 877-900-6960.