Cedar Hill Prep School Family Handbook 2020-2021

FAMILY

AND OO B

K

H

2020 / 2021

Dear CHP Families, The policies and procedures within our Family Handbook are pre-COVID 19.

Due to this pandemic, these may con�nue to change to insure the safety and well-being of our en�re CHP community. Please read the COVID-19 Addendum to our Family Handbook for the latest changes. You will be no�fied of any addi�onal changes as the year progresses.

We wish our en�re CHP community a safe and healthy 2020-2021 school year!

Table of Contents From The Founder’s Desk Our Mission Our Belief Educational Curriculum Our Teachers Class Management Policy Overall School Policy Non-Discrimination Policy Parent Involvement The Application Process Eligibility Requirements Initial Entry To Kindergarten Initial Entry To First Grade Underage Transfers From Out-Of-State To Kindergarten And First Grade And Other Transfers Enrolling From Home Education Programs Admission Process/Enrollment Procedure (Elementary And Middle School) Tuition Policy Important Information About Tuition Dues Re-Enrollment Summer Enrichment Work Unscheduled Closings Dress Code - Preschool And Pre-Kindergarten Uniforms For Kindergarten - Grade 8 Uniform Tardiness Valuables, Jewelry Policy School Hours Delayed Opening Schedule Early Dismissal Schedule Daily Life (Preschool / Pre-Kindergarten) Daily Life (Elementary School) Daily Life (Middle School) Regular Dismissal Dismissal - Special Circumstances Release Of Students Leaving School Grounds And Early Dismissal After Care Program Coronavirus Protocols Addendum see next page

1 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 10 10 10 10 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 16 17

Safety Procedures Fire Drill Procedure Security Drills Procedure Evacuation Bomb Threat Accidents and Injury Health Precautions Medications Student - Athlete Safety Immunizations Counseling Services Lunch Recess/Snacks Physical Education Report Cards Parent Conferences Trimester Exams Class Trips Homework Attendance Policy School Absence NJ State Policy Regarding Attendance Make-Up Work Attendance Appeal Committee Excused Absences Parental Obligations Regarding Attendance Policy Tardiness/Being Late To Arrive At School In School Parties Bus Etiquette Termination Of Enrollment Reporting Suspected Abuse And Neglect

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Licensing Information To Parents Know Your Rights (All Students) Sexual Harassment Social Media Guidelines For Students Counseling Services Expectations Of Students (Elementary And Middle School) Student Responsibilities And Rights Discipline Student Contract Student Code of Conduct Expulsion Policy Homework Policy Coronavirus Protocols Addendum Student and Parent Acknowledgement

37 40 42 44 46 47 47 48 58 58 61 64 65 69

From the Founder’s Desk, On behalf of our entire staff, I warmly welcome you to Cedar Hill Preparatory School. We are proud to be a part of a vibrant community that includes a dedicated and experienced staff, enthusiastic and gifted learners, and families who treasure the essence of wonderful education. Firm in our belief that the makeup of the educational environment is key to harnessing each child’s special gift, we feel children learn best in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment that fosters partnerships between the family and school. It is by working together that we create a strong CHP family, one that empowers children with the creative, intellectual, and decisionmaking skills that inspire them to become academically, socially, physically, and emotionally successful and responsible.

You are your child’s most important educator. As an active participant in your child’s academic career, you are establishing the path to his/her long-term success. It is with this in mind, that we encourage open dialogue and engagement among parents/guardians, teachers, and the administration.

As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s successes and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. It is therefore important for all parents to know that we believe in an OPEN DOOR POLICY and hence encourage parents to contact us with any questions, concerns, or comments.

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Communication and constructive feedback will allow us to meet your child’s needs most effectively.

I hope this handbook will give you the information you need to become part of the CHP’s vibrant community. Families are encouraged to actively participate in the various school events that take place throughout the year.

We aim at creating free spirited men and women who are intellectually free, unprejudiced in all respects, and above all unselfish.

Nan Menon

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Our Mission Our mission is to empower our students such that they reach their unique potential socially, physically, intellectually, and emotionally. We believe students learn best in a safe, caring and nurturing environment that fosters partnerships between the family and the school. It is by working together that we create a strong CHP family, one that empowers children with the creative, intellectual, and decision-making skills that inspire them to become successful and responsible.

Our Belief Children need to perceive themselves as valuable, based on what is within them. They also need external experiences that help them feel valuable. Our aim is to help parents raise children not only to regard themselves as valuable people, but also with kindness, compassion, and the ability to connect and grow up to add value to the lives of others.

Cedar Hill Prep School’s Educational Curriculum Cedar Hill Prep School’s Educational Curriculum has been carefully formulated by experienced Education Specialists. It combines project-based activities and instructional methodologies that reach diverse learning modalities, two important components to creating an exciting learning environment.

Our program respects the individuality of each child and fosters the development of each child’s emotional, intellectual, physical, and social skills. We provide every child with an environment rich in experiences, concepts, ideas and skills. We believe that the learning process is dynamic in nature and thus expecting a specific outcome is not our ULTIMATE GOAL. We build on every child’s milestones and interests.

Our curriculum is built on the following tenets:  Each individual has multiple intelligences.  Information needs to be reinforced if it is to remain embedded in the mind for further learning.  Effective instruction involves continuous assessment of students’ understanding and using that information to direct further instruction.  We stay up to date on the new methodologies of education and maintain a channel of communication with child development professors from the local universities about proven techniques.

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Our Teachers In keeping with the overall vision of the School, every teacher at Cedar Hill Prep School has been hired due to their unique talents, skills and characteristics. Each teacher has a Bachelor’s Degree (minimum requirement) and a NJ teaching certificate to teach the appropriate grades, previous teaching experience in elite schools and the knowledge gained from being caring and concerned.

Before being placed in the classroom, each staff member completes a thorough application, screening and training process, in compliance with the Cedar Hill Prep School standards and local government regulations. This includes a criminal background check, a minimum of two employment references verified, and a physical examination and TB test.

Applicants undergo in-depth interviews that are formulated to enable us to determine their ability to carry out the Cedar Hill Prep School mission and philosophy. Only those applicants deemed qualified on our set criteria are selected and then placed on a 90-day probationary period during which time they are closely monitored and evaluated. In addition, staff members are certified in CPR and first aid.

Our teachers participate in continuing professional education and training and ongoing evaluations.

Class Management Policy Discipline will be handled first by establishing rules and limits for equipment, activities, and play. Teachers will act as appropriate role models for children. At Cedar Hill Prep School, we feel that if the classroom environment is well structured, there will be few discipline problems. However, if a child has a problem, it will be handled immediately on a one-to-one basis. We do not have a standard procedure because we feel each situation has its own circumstances, which warrant specific strategies at that time.

We feel that concentrating on the positive aspects helps eliminate negative situations that might warrant further disciplinary actions. Physical discipline will never be permitted at Cedar Hill Prep School.

As part of our effective guidance techniques, we include discussions with parents about any problems or behaviors in need of correction. Often a child may be acting out in response to difficult situations at home or a special physical or cognitive imparity. If there are particular circumstances that would affect your child’s behavior (divorce, death, new sibling), please let us 4

know. Outside consultations or evaluations may be recommended when deemed appropriate.

A detailed copy of the Cedar Hill Prep School Discipline Policy is posted in the office. Upon request you can obtain a copy from the Director.

Overall School Policy Cedar Hill Prep School maintains an environment free of all forms of unlawful discrimination.

Non-discrimination Policy Cedar Hill Prep School ensures equal education and equal employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in employment and opportunity without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, gender orientation, genetic information, religion, age, marital status, familial status, disability, and military or veteran status.

Student Confidentiality All information pertaining to a child and his /her family is at all times confidential. At times a staff member, along with the Director of the School, may review the child’s file for information that may be pertinent to the child’s needs.

By no means may the child’s family information or child’s information be released to any outside influences without written consent from the parent or guardian.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT As parents, your involvement in your child's academic career is key to long-term success. Here at CHP, we believe it is equally important that we create an environment that allows for open dialogue and engagement between parents, teachers and the administration. To achieve this goal, we ask that you follow these guidelines: •

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Be actively involved in the learning process at home and in school, such as collaborating with teachers on your child’s performance in school and fostering learning at home by providing your child appropriate assistance and monitoring of homework.

Participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences When possible, volunteer and participate in school-parent activities such as PTO meetings.

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Bring your child to school on time every day with the necessary school supplies and appropriate dress.

Do not tolerate vulgar, sarcastic, or catty language from your child or bullying, violent, or aggressive speech or behavior. I will set a good example by my own speech and behavior.

It is crucial that all parents, teachers, and administrators show respect for one another in front of the children at all times; that we speak respectfully with kindness and courtesy, especially when there is disagreement. Our behavior serves as a model for the children.

Help us to stop rumors. Please go through the proper channels when you have a problem.

Please speak to the teacher or adult in charge before accepting your child’s version of an incident. It is crucial that we all fully understand the total picture so that we may help the children learn how to manage different situations.

As a parent, you impart very important values to your child as you follow the school’s rules, calendars, deadlines, and expect your child to do the same The safety of our students is a priority! Please adhere to school developed, on-site traffic plans for vehicles when bringing students to school or picking them up after school. If your children are walkers or bicyclists, encourage them to follow safety rules and use pedestrian-safety features where available.

Help to build a bridge of acceptance and understanding, and expect your child to do the same among the different cultures represented at Cedar Hill Prep School.

By being an involved parent, your child’s experience at Cedar Hill Prep School will be enhanced for both of you.

You are encouraged to speak with your child’s teacher on a frequent basis. If there are any questions, problems, or situations that need to be addressed, do not hesitate to contact the teacher. If not satisfactorily addressed, contact the Administration. Our goal is to communicate with you on an ongoing basis and satisfactorily resolve any concerns you may have.

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THE APPLICATION PROCESS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLING IN SCHOOL (AS PER THE STATE OF NJ) Mandatory School Age State law requires that a child, who will be six (6) years old by October 31st of the school year, must attend school regularly during the school term. Therefore, the child must begin school at the beginning of the school year.

Evidence of Date of Birth A legal birth certificate or other authentic proof of a child’s age, as required by law, must be submitted prior to a student’s initial entry into kindergarten. Kindergarteners and first graders who are transferring to Cedar Hill Prep School must also furnish proof of age in order to comply with state and district transfer requirements.

Initial Entry to Kindergarten Children entering kindergarten in Cedar Hill Prep School must be five (5) years old on or before October 31st in order to meet the age requirements for kindergarten.

Initial Entry to First Grade Any child who has attained the age of six (6) years on or before October 31st of the school year and who has been enrolled in a public school or who has attained the age of six (6) years on or before October 31st and has satisfactorily completed the requirements for kindergarten in a non-public school is eligible to take the entrance test at Cedar Hill Prep School.

Students transferring to first grade from a kindergarten program will need written verification of satisfactory completion of kindergarten from the public or non-public school attended. In addition, students will be subjected to the placement test conducted by Cedar Hill Prep School to determine their eligibility of admission to the school.

Underage Transfers From Out-of-State to Kindergarten and First Grade and Other Transfers Students transferring to Cedar Hill Prep School in grades kindergarten through fourth will be eligible for the previous school’s recommended grade placement if the school’s criteria 7

for transfer are met in addition to the placement test conducted

by Cedar Hill Prep School.

Enrolling from Home Education Programs The following guidelines refer to children from Home Education Programs.

A child will be enrolled if he/she meets the entrance requirements of Cedar Hill Prep School, as applies to any other student.

Notification of Loco Parentis In cases in which a student is temporarily not residing with his or her parent or legal guardian for a short period of time, the parent or legal guardian of the student shall designate in writing that adult person with whom the student resides who stands in loco parentis to the student in order for him or her to be admitted or to continue in school. This statement shall include an expected date terminating the loco parentis and shall be notarized and presented to the School Director.

ADMISSION PROCESS/ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE (Elementary and Middle School) To enroll your child at Cedar Hill Prep School, we encourage both parents and children to visit the School and meet with the Administrator and teachers. During this time you will have the opportunity to tour the facility and have your questions answered. When you have made the decision to enroll, please follow these steps: 1. Schedule the date for an Entrance Test.

2. Send the referral/additional information package to the existing school, which has to be mailed back to Cedar Hill Prep School in order to evaluate the student as a potential candidate for admission.

3. Complete all necessary forms in the packet, which includes the enrollment form and emergency contact numbers.

4. Submit a current physical examination report and immunization record completed by a physician.

5. Pay the required registration fee.

Tuition Policy Tuition is divided into 10 equal payments and paid to the School by the first day of the month starting in July and ending in May. The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. In case you cannot meet this obligation, you may cover your expenses by purchasing Tuition Insurance in order to meet the School’s requirement of paying the 10 months tuition. The tuition 8

insurance information is included in your Admission and Reenrollment Packet.

Tuition is still due in full even though your child may not attend.

Should your child permanently withdraw from School, no credit or refund of tuition will be given. Return to School would require payment of a re-registration fee.

For each additional child enrolled in your immediate family, you will be entitled to 10% discount on tuition of the older sibling.

Should there be any extenuating circumstances that would prevent you from paying on a timely basis, please discuss this confidentially with the Administrator prior to it becoming a problem. Continued failure to pay tuition on a timely basis may result in the termination of your child’s enrollment.

Important information about Tuition Dues: 1.

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Payments are due on the 1st of each month, regardless of holidays or weekends. If the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due on the previous working day.

Payments made after the 3rd of each month are subject to a $25.00 late fee.

Payments made after the 10th of each month are subject to a $50.00 late fee.

Payments made through credit cards which are declined due to insufficient funds will incur the credit card fees the School incurs (3% of charged amount) and charges as mentioned in 1 and 2 as they apply.

Check payments that are returned to the School due to insufficient funds will incur the $35 bank fee and charges as mentioned in 1 and 2 as they apply. Replacement checks should be certified or need to be a money order.

Tuition payments that are more than 30 days delinquent will be levied an additional 10% of the tuition amount as an additional fee for delinquency.

If payments are delinquent by more than 60 days, the student’s enrollment will be terminated.

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Cedar Hill Prep School operates on a 10 month academic calendar. Tuition payments are divided into 10 equal installments which are mandatory and non- negotiable. Students are discouraged from being absent from school during the academic year due to vacations/holidays. Hence there will be no tuition credit available for extended absence from school. Moreover, the student will lose his/her seat in the class, and will need to register as a new student, which will be subject to availability.

Withdrawals, Transfers - Notification Parents should notify the School or their child’s teacher of their plans of withdrawal or transfer as soon as possible, prior to the last day of attendance. The notification should include the last day of attendance and the next school the child will be attending. Before the withdrawal or transfer is completed, all school property must be turned in and accounted for and all charges paid.

Re-Enrollment All students need to re-enroll annually to attend Cedar Hill Prep School. Parents will receive the re-enrollment package from the school in March. All documents in the re-enrollment package need to be completed and submitted to the School Business Office by the date stipulated in the re-enrollment contract along with the deposit monies and re-enrollment fees, in order to bind the contract.

Summer Enrichment Work Students who are re-enrolled for the following academic year will be given summer enrichment work. This may be in the form of weekly assignments, book reports, and online lessons.

Students will be expected to fulfill their summer obligations prior to the 1st day of School.

Unscheduled Closings (including weather related, power outage, unanticipated emergencies) In case of unscheduled emergencies, Cedar Hill Prep School may have to close.

In weather related emergencies, the closing and opening is usually in accordance to the public school schedule as announced on local radio stations.

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Automated phone and text messages will notify you of any school closing information. These automated messages will be sent to the phone number you have assigned for us to use regarding any emergencies, school closings, or early dismissals. The school closing information will be available on the school website http://www.cedarhillprep.com. and School Facebook page.

If weather conditions worsen during the day and it is absolutely necessary to close due to extremely dangerous driving conditions, parents will be notified to pick up their child.

DRESS CODE Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Children are to arrive fully dressed to school. Clothing should be comfortable, practical and weather appropriate, because play and activities are such an important part of the curriculum.

Children should therefore wear comfortable shoes, preferably sneakers. Footwear such as sandals, flip-flops, and boots do not offer the necessary safety and protection and, therefore, are not permitted.

Every child needs to always have a complete change of clothing, including socks and underwear, kept at school in case of soiling. If your child has changed clothing during the day, please take home the soiled items and replace them the next day.

All clothing items are to be labeled with the child’s full name. A lost and found box is kept at the school, so please check it if you are missing anything. If your child comes home with an article of clothing that is not his or hers, please return it.

What your child can bring from home On “Show and Tell” days, children are encouraged to share items of interest such as toys, games, books and tapes. Items of a dangerous or violent nature, such as toy guns or sharp objects, or anything deemed to be unsafe by the Cedar Hill Prep School staff, will not be permitted.

In other instances, it is in the best interest of all children to not bring personal or valuable items as they may be lost or broken or create problems in an otherwise shared environment. A good alternative is to have a favorite toy waiting in the car when your child is picked up.

Under no circumstances should your child bring in money, jewelry, or valuables.

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UNIFORMS for Kindergarten - Grade 8 Please visit www.landsend.com to order uniforms for your child.

The preferred school number is: 9001-2003-1.

Updated information will be available at the website.

Uniform Tardiness Students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 are expected to come to school in their uniforms. It is the School’s responsibility to implement guidelines for decorum and expectations. The implicit participation of the family is required for the student to be a part of the school. Any K – 8 student who does not adhere to this rule on a daily basis will be cited for “Uniform Tardiness” by the class teacher who will then log it onto the student’s attendance record.

A violation of the above rule can be construed as a “family violation to rules and regulations.”

Valuables, Jewelry Policy: What your child can bring from home Students should not bring anything of value to School (i.e., money, jewelry, phones, or other valuables). Cedar Hill Prep School will not be responsible for the safe keeping or loss of these items.

Anything deemed to be unsafe by the Cedar Hill Prep School staff will not be permitted.

On occasion, a teacher may request that students bring in articles from home, which should adhere to our guidelines.

School Hours: Regular Schedule: School opens at 8:00 am Preschool: Pre-Kindergarten: Kindergarten: Grades 1 – 2 Grades 3 – 4 Grades 5 – 8

8:00 am – 1:00 pm or 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 8:00 am – 1:00 pm or 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pick-up for Middle School is at 4 pm, not between 3 pm and 4 pm unless advanced notice is given.

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DELAYED OPENING SCHEDULE: (Shorter periods, but same daily schedule) School will open at 10:00 am for Middle School School will open at 10:30 am for Grades 1-4 School will open at 11:00 am for Preschool – Kindergarten

EARLY DISMISSAL SCHEDULE: (Shorter periods, but same daily schedule) School will end at 1:30 pm for Preschool -Kindergarten School will end at 2:00 pm for Elementary School School will end at 2:30 pm for Middle School

DAILY LIFE (Preschool / Pre-Kindergarten) Arrival Drop off times should be between 8:00 am and 8:30 am.

Students are to be brought to the Multi-purpose Room and signed in by the parents.

All students are to be in their classrooms by 8:30 am. Children not present by 8:30 am when class begins will be marked late.

If a student arrives before 8:00 AM, he/she must report to the Before-Care Program held in the Multi- purpose Room; the family will be charged the Before-Care fee.

However, if the Preschooler/ Pre-Kindergartener has a Middle School sibling, the younger child may be dropped off at the same time as the older child without having to pay a fee.

There is adult supervision from 7:00 AM until 8:30 AM. Students arriving late must go with their parents to their respective classroom.

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Daily Schedule and Dismissal Procedures Begin Day Lunch (in M.P. room) Preschool ½ day Dismissal End of the Day for the Preschool & Pre-K

8:30 am 12:00 – 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 3:00 pm

DAILY LIFE (Elementary School) Arrival All students are to be in their classrooms by 8:30 am.

Drop off times should be between 8:00 am and 8:30 am. If a student arrives before 8:00 am, he/she must report to the Before School Program held in the Multi-purpose Room, and you will be charged the “Before Care” fee. There is adult supervision from 7:00 am until 8:30 am.

However, if the Elementary School student has a Middle School sibling, the younger child may be dropped off at the same time as the older child without having to pay a fee.

Students arriving late will be marked” tardy” by the class teacher.

Daily Schedule Begin Day Lunch (in M.P. Room) End of the day for the K Car Pickup – 3:00 pm End of the day for Grade 1 – 2 Car Pickup – 3:00 pm End of the day for Grade 3 – 4 Car Pickup – 3:30 pm

8:30 AM 11:30 – 12:00 (K-2) 12:30 – 1:00 PM (3-4) 3:00 pm CHP Bus Pickup – 3:30pm 3:00 pm Bus pickup – 3:30 pm 3:30 pm Bus pick up – 3:30 pm

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DAILY LIFE (Middle School) Arrival All students are to be in their classrooms by 8:00 am. Children not present by 8:05 am when class begins will be marked late.

Drop off times should be between 7:30 am and 7:55am.

There is adult supervision from 7:00 am until 8:00 am.

Students arriving late will be marked” tardy” by the class teacher.

Daily Schedule Begin Day Lunch End of the day for Grade 5-8 Car Pickup – 4:00 pm

8:00 am 1:00 – 1:30 pm 4:00 pm Bus pickup – 4:00 pm

Pick-up for Middle School students is at 4 pm, not between 3 and 4 pm unless advance notice has been given.

Regular Dismissal Your child’s safety is our foremost concern. Procedures for arrivals and departures have been developed to assure the safety and well-being of everyone at the School. Your cooperation in complying with these procedures is appreciated.

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Parents are to use only the Multi-purpose Room for arrival drop off/dismissal time pick up.

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A child will not be permitted to leave with any person other than those designated in writing by the parent. Photo identification will be checked for any designated person picking up the child. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

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No student may walk or ride their bicycle home without proper notification to the School and a consent form signed by the parent.

If there are any changes to those authorized to pick up your child, or if you will be car-pooling with other parents, please advise the School in writing; include the names and phone numbers of the members of the car-pool as well as the schedule.

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Car Lane Children being picked up by car will meet their rides in front of the building under the “Canopy� by the Multi-purpose Room.

Parents are asked to form a line within the parking lot in order to facilitate the pick-up. For longer waits and/or visits into the building, please use a parking space. Do not leave your cars unattended in the pick-up lane.

DISMISSAL - SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Release of Students Students are released to the parent/guardian of record only. A parent/guardian must give advance written notice to the school when requesting a child be released to other designated persons. School personnel may require persons who are requesting to pick up children from school to show proper identification.

If a student must leave school early or there is to be a change in normal transportation, parents must send a note to their class teacher, no emails please, explaining the reason. Included in the note should be the exact time of departure and name of the person picking up the child (must be in the emergency contact list). Students who leave early must meet their parents (or other designated person) in the Main Lobby. Parents must sign their child out in the Sign-Out Book located at the Front Desk.

If a parent is unavoidably delayed for dismissal time, the teacher will take the child to the Aftercare Program after 15 minutes.

We encourage parents to call if not arriving on time, and the child will automatically be taken to the Aftercare Program. The parent must call the Main Office to inform the Administration about the alternate arrangements in terms of Care-taker and time of pick up.

Leaving School Grounds and Early Dismissal No student shall be permitted to leave school prior to dismissal at the request of or in the company of anyone other than a school employee, a police officer or court official with judicial authority, or the parents of the student unless the written permission of the parent or guardian of record is first secured.

Parents or guardians may have access to the student or may grant permission to allow the student to leave school prior to dismissal unless the school has been provided with evidence 16

that there is a legally binding instrument or court order governing such matters as divorce, separation, or custody which provides to the contrary.

No student shall be sent from school grounds to perform an errand or act as a messenger.

AFTERCARE PROGRAM (Please make sure you read the Afterschool Handbook for rules and procedures pertaining to the program) The aim of the CHP Aftercare Program is to provide a structured afterschool program which includes Homework Help and Enrichment.

Children can also participate in various extra-curricular activities that are being offered by the Afterschool Clubs, at an additional cost.

SAFETY PROCEDURES Cedar Hill Prep School will adhere to the following safety guidelines: 1.

Fire drills are conducted once each month. An Emergency Exit Plan is posted in each classroom.

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Fire and building inspections have been made. Those certifications are posted in the Director's desk.

3.

A First Aid Kit is readily available in the classroom and in the office.

4.

In case of injury, a report will be made of the incident.

The parent will receive a copy.

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Children will be supervised at all times while attending the School.

FIRE/SECURITY DRILLS Cedar Hill Prep School will have at least one fire drill and one school security drill each month within school hours, including during the summer months when school is open. Students, faculty, staff and visitors in the building should follow the applicable instructions.

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FIRE DRILL PROCEDURE • • • • •

Hear the Fire Alarm Windows and Doors should be closed Students will line up quietly and be escorted by the teacher to the predetermined gathering area. All students will be accounted for by taking attendance.

Teachers will carry with them their Emergency Contacts binder.

All students/staff/teachers will ONLY return to the building at the command of the Emergency Responder or Administrator.

SECURITY DRILLS PROCEDURE CATEGORY 1 – LOCKDOWN/ACTIVE SHOOTER • •

Pay attention to hear the announcement – “LOCKDOWN” or “ACTIVE SHOOTER” Follow the instructions as they apply, based on your location:  CLASSROOM - Proceed to the designated place within the classroom.  HALLWAY - Proceed to the nearest room.  OUTDOORS IN THE CAMPUS – Quickly enter the nearest building.  ALL BUILDINGS LOCKED – Proceed swiftly to the Swim Club.  BATHROOM – Proceed to the nearest classroom. If the classroom door is locked, go back to the bathroom and hide quietly in the stall.

All teachers will have to lock their classroom doors, shut off lights, close shades, and gather the children away from the door and windows. DO NOT ANSWER THE DOOR FOR ANYONE. Teachers need to ensure children are composed.

Await announcement that declares the “all clear signal” or an announcement of “EVACUATE.” If you are asked to “evacuate,” follow directions for “EVACUATION.”

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CATEGORY 2 – EVACUATION • Pay attention to hear the announcement – “EVACUATION” • Follow the FIRE DRILL PROCEDURE for exiting the building.

• All students/staff will be lead off campus to Cedar Hill Pool Club area behind the school property. Teachers will carry the emergency contacts binder and take attendance of all present.

• All parents will be directed to the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ where a school representative will update them on the situation.

CATEGORY 3 – BOMB THREAT • Pay attention to hear the announcement – “BOMB THREAT.” • Follow the FIRE DRILL PROCEDURE for exiting the building.

• Students will line up quietly and be escorted by the teacher to the LOW ROPES AREA. All students will be accounted for by taking attendance.

• Teachers will carry with them their Emergency Contacts binder.

• All students/staff/teachers will ONLY return to the building at the command of the Emergency Responder or Administrator.

ACCIDENTS AND INJURY Cedar Hill Prep School employs a full time Nurse to ensure the safety of the students and staff. In addition, staff members are trained in first aid. There are first aid kits in the classrooms and in the Director’s office. For minor injuries, the child will be treated by the Nurse, and the staff will complete an Accident Report. 911 will be called in case of extreme emergency.

Parents or other persons identified on the child's emergency form will be called.

Any expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the parents or legal guardian of the child. Cedar Hill Prep School cannot assume responsibility for accidents or for anything that may happen as a result of false information given on the medical form.

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HEALTH PRECAUTIONS The following cases require that STUDENTS MUST GO HOME immediately.

The staff will check each child as he/she arrives. A child with certain signs or symptoms of illness shall be immediately isolated and discharged to the parent or guardian.

Please check the following list for signs and symptoms referred to above: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Temperature of 100 degrees F by auxiliary (underarm) method Skin Rash Conjunctivitis (pink eye) Diarrhea or vomiting Any evidence of lice infestation Sore Throat Stiff neck Difficult or rapid breathing Yellowish skin or eyes Severe coughing Unusually dark urine or gray/white stool Green or yellowish discharge from the nose

Exhibiting the above symptoms will result in the child being sent home.

If a child becomes ill during the day, the parents will be contacted to determine if the child needs to go home. If it is decided that the child should leave school, the parents must arrange for the child to depart for home as quickly as possible.

We do not have facilities for the long term care of an ill child.

If a child becomes ill after the parent leaves, the child will be isolated and contact will be made for the child to be picked up as soon as possible. If a parent of the child cannot be contacted, the school may discharge the child to the person (s} designated by the parent. An emergency contact may also be asked to pick up the child.

No child will ever be left alone or unsupervised at any time.

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When your child is absent from the school for a contagious illness, you are asked to present a statement from the child's physician verifying that he/she may safely return to school. No prescription or over the counter drugs will be administered by the staff. Parents of other children will be notified of exposure to communicable diseases by posting of a notice, by email, or by telephone.

A child who is mildly ill will be closely observed and allowed to remain with the other children as long as the symptoms remain mild and he/she does not appear to be contagious. A cot will be set aside if needed, and a staff member will attend the child.

Parents or emergency contacts will be notified.

If any of the staff have any of the signs or symptoms listed above they will not be able to work until free of illness.

MEDICATIONS All medication, including OTC (over the counter), will not be administered without a written consent form from the parent and a note from the Physician. Medication forms are located in the Administrative and School Nurse’s Offices.

Medication must be brought to School in its original container and handed to the School Nurse.

Any EMERGENCY MEDICATION must be brought to school in its original container with documentation pertaining to its administration, duly signed by the Physician and Parent.

If parents or guardians provide the School written orders from a physician or advanced practice nurse that a child requires the administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism for anaphylaxis, parents must also provide to the School written authorization for the administration of the epinephrine.

In accordance with New Jersey law, the School and its employees or agents will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of the epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism.

The parents or guardians of the child must sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that the School does not have any liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of the epinephrine to the child and the parents or 21

guardians shall indemnify and hold harmless the School, its employees or agents against any claims arising out of the administration of the epinephrine.

Permission for the School to administer the epinephrine is effective for the school year in which the School receives the order and signed statement. Permission is renewed for each subsequent school year after receipt of written orders from a physician or advanced practice nurse and the statement signed by parents or guardians acknowledging that the School is not liable for the administration of epinephrine.

The child’s prescribed epinephrine will be kept in a secure but unlocked location easily accessible by the School Nurse and designees. The location of the child’s epinephrine will be contained on the Student’s Emergency Care Plan.

The School Nurse or designee will be available on site at school and school-sponsored functions in the event of an allergic reaction.

The School will arrange for the transportation of the child to a hospital emergency room by EMTs after the administration of epinephrine, even if the child’s symptoms appear to have resolved.

The School Nurse or trained designee is permitted to administer epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism to any child with a known history of anaphylaxis or any child whose parent or guardian has not provided written authorization for administration for epinephrine, written orders from a physician or advanced practice nurse, or completed the form acknowledging that the School does not have liability for administering epinephrine.

Annual Physical Examination forms are sent home in the spring, for the following school year. These forms are valid for ONE SCHOOL YEAR. AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR The School has an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in an unlocked location on school property with an appropriate identifying sign.

The AED is accessible during the school day and when a school-sponsored athletic event or team practice is taking place.

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The School has a designated staff member present for athletic events and/or team practices who is trained in CPR and the use of an AED. The School has an emergency action plan for responding to a sudden cardiac event, including an event which requires the use of an AED. STUDENT-ATHLETE SAFETY Each year the School distributes a pamphlet developed by the Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Health, the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics about sudden cardiac arrest to parents or guardians of children participating in athletic activities, along with a form to be signed by the child athlete and his/her parent or guardian acknowledging receipt and review of the pamphlet.

A child participating in or wishing to participate in an athletic activity, along with the child’s parent or guardian must, each year, prior to participation in an athletic activity, sign and return the form acknowledging the receipt and review of the pamphlet.

Any child enrolled in grades six to 12 must have a physical examination using the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form prior to the child’s participation in any schoolsponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad.

The physical examination must be conducted within 365 days prior to the first day of official practice in an athletic season.

Any child whose physical examination was completed more than 90 days prior to the first day of official practice in an athletic season must provide a health history update questionnaire, completed and signed by the child’s parent or guardian.

A child enrolled in grades six to 12 is not permitted to participate on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad unless the child has completed a Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form and, if applicable, a completed health history update questionnaire.

IMMUNIZATIONS Please make sure your child's universal health record (physician's medical statement) is up-to-date. Immunization 23

Records need to be submitted at the time of Admission/Reenrollment and are a requirement prior to the first day of school.

New Jersey state law, N.J. A.C. 8:57-4.1, requires all children attending any public or private school, child care center, nursery school, preschool or kindergarten to receive certain vaccinations. NJ state law requires the following vaccinations: Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine • Every child less than 7 years old must receive a minimum of four doses of the DTP vaccine or any vaccine combination containing DTP, one dose of which must have been given on or about the child’s 4th birthday • Children 7 years old through 9 years old who have not completed this requirement must receive adult Td instead of DTP. •Any child transferring into a New Jersey school at Grade Six or a higher grade level from another state or country on or after September 1, 2008 must have received one dose of Tdap if at least five years have elapsed from the last documented Td dose.

Poliovirus Vaccine • Every child less than 7 years old must have received at least three doses of OPV or IPC (poliovirus vaccine), either separately, in combination, or as a combination vaccine containing IPV. One dose must have been given on or after the child’s 4th birthday or alternatively, any combination of four doses.

• Any child over 7 years old and older many receive any combination of three doses of OPV or IPV. Measles Virus Vaccine • Every child born on or after January 1, 1990 must have received two doses of a live measles-containing vaccine or any vaccine combination containing live measles vaccine, such as the preferred measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine prior to school entrance.

• Children born on or after January 1, 1990 and enrolling in school (kindergarten, grade one or a higher grade) that do not have documented doses of measles vaccine, must receive the second dose of measles or another measles-containing combination vaccine, no sooner than 1 month and no later than 2 months after receiving the first dose.

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Rubella Vaccine • Every child must have received one dose of live rubella virus vaccine or any vaccine combination containing live virus vaccine, which must be administered on or after the child’s 1st birthday.

Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine • Every child born after January 1, 1990 must have received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, or any vaccine combination containing hepatitis B prior to entering school.

• Every child born after January 1, 1990, attending or transferring into a New Jersey school, without documented doses of hepatitis b vaccine, must receive the first dose before entering school, the second dose no later than three months after receiving the first dose and the third dose no later than 12 months following the first dose.

• A child entering school with one documented dose shall have no longer than six months to complete the three dose hepatitis B series.

• A child entering school with two documented doses shall have no longer than four months to complete the three dose hepatitis B series.

• Unvaccinated children 11 through 15 years of age who have not begun or completed the hepatitis b vaccine series can be given two doses of any hepatitis B vaccine licensed and approved for a two dose regimen to satisfy the vaccine requirement. The second dose must be received no later than six months following the first dose.

Varicella Virus Vaccine • Every child born on or after January 1, 1998 must have received one dose of varicella vaccine or a vaccine combination containing varicella, which was administered to prior to school entrance into kindergarten or grade one.

• Every child born on or after January 1, 1998, attending or transferring into a New Jersey school from another state or country, must have received one dose of a varicella virus containing vaccine.

Meningococcal Vaccine • Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending Grade Six must have received one does of a meningococcal-containing vaccine.

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• Every child born on or after January 1, 1997, attending or transferring into a New Jersey school at Grade Six or a higher grade level from another state or country on or after September 1, 2008 must have received one dose of meningococcal vaccine.

Influenza Vaccine • Children 6 months through 59 months of age attending any child-care center or preschool facility shall annually receive at least one dose of influenza vaccine between September 1 and December 31 of each year.

Exemptions • A child is not required to have specific immunizations which are medically contraindicated.

• A written statement provided to the School from a licensed physician to practice medicine or a certified registered nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist stating that an immunization is medically contraindicated for a specific period of time, which contains the reasons for the medical contraindication, will exempt the child from the immunization required for the stated period of time.

• The School will annually review the statement and when the child’s medical condition permits immunization, the exemption will end and the child is required to obtain the immunization.

• Any child who has received a medical exemption may be excluded from the School during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak as determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services or his or her designee.

• A child is exempt from mandatory immunization if the child’s parent or guardian submits to the School a written signed statement requesting the exemption in accordance with the requirements for a religious exemption under N.J.S.A. 26:1A-9.1 on “the ground that…immunization interferes with the free exercise of the pupil’s religious rights.”

• The School may exclude children with religious exemptions from school during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak as determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services or his or her designee.

Provisional Admission • The School must admit a student on a provisional basis if a physician, certified registered nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or health department can document that at least one dose of each required age-appropriate vaccine has been 26

administered and that the child is in the process of receiving the remaining immunizations.

• Provisional admissions will only be granted one time to children entering or transferring into the School.

• Children transferring into the school from out-of-state or out-ofcountry will be allowed a 30-day grace period in order to obtain past immunization documentation before provisional status will begin.

• If at the end of the provisional admission period the child has not received the required immunizations, the School can exclude the child from school until the appropriate documentation has been provided to the school.

• Children attending school on provisional status may be temporarily excluded from the school during a vaccinepreventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak as determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services or his or her designee.

Please make sure immunization information is recorded on your child’s physician’s medical statement. Updated Immunization Records need to be submitted at the time of Admission/Reenrollment and are a requirement prior to the first day of school.

COUNSELING SERVICES AT CEDAR HILL PREP SCHOOL Cedar Hill Prep School provides counseling services on an as needed basis. The Guidance Counselor will work with the staff and students at the school by providing Character Education classes, workshops related to the health and well-being of the students, and counseling services.

These services are also available for private consultation for the Cedar Hill Prep School families.

LUNCH Cedar Hill Prep School employs the services of an outside catering company to deliver lunches to the school. Parents work out an independent arrangement with Catering Solutions.

Menus are sent home to parents at the beginning of each month and posted in the School and to the School’s website. In addition to filling out the Medical Information form, please advise the catering company and your child’s teacher in writing of any food allergies or intolerance. A substitute item may be offered to your child.

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Students may purchase lunch from the school caterer or bring food from home.

Good table manners are expected. Students remain seated during lunch and socialize with students at their own tables.

Books, papers, toys and other materials are not allowed at the lunch table. Students are not permitted to bring beverages in glass bottles. Faculty/Lunch Period Volunteers supervise the students during the Lunch period.

For safety reasons – • Students are not allowed to use the School microwave.

• The School will not reheat the food for the students.

Students are encouraged to bring hot food in well insulated containers. Please bring beverages in thermoses. All utensils, plates, and napkins should be brought to school with the student’s lunch. Students may not leave the lunch room without permission.

Recess/Snacks All students have Recess. Weather permitting, the children generally play outside and should have outerwear appropriate for the outside temperatures.

Snack time is provided in the morning and in the late afternoon for Aftercare students. Parents are requested to send their children with an AM Snack and PM Snack (if enrolled in Aftercare) and with the utensils, plates and napkins required for consumption.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Physical Education is mandatory. If for some reason a student is not able to participate, parents must send a doctor’s note explaining the situation. This should be given to the class teacher at the beginning of the day.

REPORT CARDS Preschool-Kindergarten The School emails two formal Report Cards during the school year, first in late January, and the second in mid-June. All Report Cards include thorough comments about the child’s skills, abilities, progress, and behavior.

Elementary and Middle School The School emails three formal Report Cards during the school year, first in late January, next in March, and the third in June.

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Students’ grades can be monitored on a daily basis on Gradelink, the online school portal.

Parent Conferences Two parent conference days are scheduled each year, in midNovember and mid-March.

Preschool – Kindergarten: Conferences are about thirty minutes in length and are scheduled in advance. During these conferences, teachers give updates on each child’s academic work and social adjustment. Parents need to bring questions and concerns that they would like to discuss. The teachers will furnish a written summary for the parents after the conference.

Elementary/Middle School: Conferences are about fifteen minutes in length and are scheduled in advance. During these conferences, teachers give updates on each child’s academic work and social adjustment. Parents need to bring questions and concerns that they would like to discuss.

TRIMESTER EXAMS Students in Grade 1-8 will have trimester examinations as per the School Calendar. At the end of the year, all students, K-8 will take the TerraNova Multiple Assessment Examination.

CLASS TRIPS Students in all grades take school-sponsored class trips throughout the year. Parents will be sent consent forms at least 2 weeks prior to each trip along with the cost/student for the trip.

Good behavior is expected, and all appropriate school rules apply. On some trips, parents may be asked to chaperone.

OVERNIGHT TRIPS Students in Grades 5-8 will participate in overnight trips as part of the requirements for their curriculum.

HOMEWORK Homework is used to reinforce the class work. It is usually assigned on a daily basis. The following times are the maximum anticipated time for homework.

Preschool 10 minutes Pre-K - K 20 minutes Grades 1 - 2 30 – 45 minutes Grades 3 -4 45 min. – 1 hr.

Grade 5-8 1 hour 29

Students who miss tests or homework because of illness will be given a fair amount of time to make up the work. After a short absence, this should happen within one week. For extended absences, special arrangements need to be made with the class teacher. Parents are urged to monitor and provide encouragement to their child during project and homework time.

However, parents should not do the assignments/project for their child(ren).

CEDAR HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE Attendance Students must attend school each day and be on time.

A student is considered to be present at school if away from school on a school day and engaged in an educational activity that constitutes a school approved instructional program or activity.

Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the school during the days and hours that the school is in session.

School attendance shall be the responsibility of parents/ guardians and students. Absences shall be reported to the school by the parent or eligible student as soon as practicable.

SCHOOL ABSENCE A student who is not present for his or her instructional classes or program at school on a school day is marked absent.

Please call the School (732-356-5400) if your child will be late or absent. Parents should call the Main Office if work is to be sent home with another child or picked up by the parent at the end of the school day. Work can be left with the Aftercare Director if it cannot be picked up before the Office closes at 4:00 pm.

Absences Due to Illness If a student is ill or otherwise unable to attend School, parents are requested to call the Main Office before 8 am.

Do not send a sick child to School, especially one with a fever. A child should remain home 24 hours after a fever has broken or after the last incidence of vomiting or diarrhea. Please be considerate of the health of other students.

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Children attending the School should be able to participate in all activities on the daily schedule, including outside play. If a child has a medical condition that prevents him/her from participating in any part of the program, please consult the child's teacher.

NJ STATE POLICY REGARDING ATTENDANCE Please be aware of the following: • Parents of students between the ages of six and 16 who accumulate 10 unexcused absences will be notified that their child is truant, pursuant to N.J.S.A.18A:38-27 and New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:167.6. As mandated in 6A:16-7.6, for unexcused absences of 10 or more, the School shall:

(1) Make a determination regarding the need for a court referral for the truancy; (2) Continue to consult with the parent and the involved agencies to support the student’s return to school and regular attendance; (3) Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate; and (4) Proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:38-28 through 31, Article 3B, Compelling Attendance at School, and other applicable State and Federal statutes, as required.

A court referral may be made when unexcused absences are determined by school officials to be violations of the compulsory education law, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 and the school’s policies, the parent may be referred to municipal court and a written report of the actions the school has taken regarding the student’s attendance shall be forwarded to the municipal court.

When there is evidence of a juvenile-family crisis, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-22.g, the student may be referred to court and a written report of the actions the school has taken regarding the student’s attendance shall be forwarded to the juvenile-family crisis intervention unit.

In accordance with statute, the School Director shall require, from the parent/guardian of each student of compulsory school age or from an eligible student who has been absent from school or from class for any reason, a statement of the cause 31

for such absence. The school reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each single absence.

In addition, A. Teachers shall record absentees each period of the school day and report absences as required by the school; B. Parents/guardians will be notified each time their child is absent insofar as possible; C. When a student has been absent three (3) consecutive days and the school has been unable to ascertain the reason for the absences, the absences shall be investigated or at any other time if deemed necessary by the School Director; D. Absences must be reported in writing to the School by the parent/guardian as soon as possible. Failure to report and explain the absence(s) shall result in unexcused absence(s).

The final authority for determining acceptability of the reason for the absence(s) shall rest with the Director.

A student who is absent more than nine (9) days within three months will not receive a passing grade for that semester.

On days designated as religious holidays, students may request prior approval to be absent from school for personal and family observance. School cooperation is requested when scheduling tests or major project due dates. Student absences for religious purposes should not prohibit students from receiving “perfect attendance� recognition.

Make-Up Work All educational requirements for the course shall be met before a passing grade is assigned. The student shall have a reasonable amount of time, left up to the discretion of the teacher, to complete make-up work. The School Director may grant extensions to the make-up time limit for extenuating circumstances.

The Director shall determine, in consultation with the teacher, when appropriate, whether the student should be given the opportunity to make-up schoolwork and course requirements missed while absent due to out-of-school suspension.

Attendance Appeal Committee Each student is entitled to an appeal by an Administrative Committee once the student has been absent more than nine (9) days within a semester.

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Excused Absences Please be advised that absences due to illness are not considered excused absences unless medically excused via a physician’s note.

There will be times when children are sick and going to the doctor is not practical, and, although these will be considered unexcused, this should not be problematic in any way provided the absences are not frequent.

Absences shall be considered excused under the following circumstances: • The student is absent due to illness and a physician’s note verifies that the date(s) of the absence(s) was/were due to the illness (see details below about timelines for submitting medical documentation).

• The student is absent due to a religious holiday, as defined by the Commissioner of Education and New Jersey Administrative Code.

• The student is absent due to death in the family. In general, five days of absence will be excused for the death of an immediate family member (parent, sibling, grandparent) and three days will be excused for the death of an extended family member (aunt or uncle, cousin, etc.). The Director may find it appropriate to make additional considerations due to absences in this area.

• Absences due to medical or dental visits that cannot be scheduled at a time other than during the school day. A note from the physician regarding the appointment will serve as documentation to excuse the absence.

• The student is absent due to a court appearance. A letter or note signed by an official of the court shall serve as documentation to excuse the absence.

If a student is absent from school: • A parent should call the School (732-356-5400) on the day of the absence before 7:45 a.m. and email the Home Room teacher.

• The student is still responsible for assignments given for the next day. Please visit Gradelink to get the relevant information.

• Students whose parents have not been in contact with the School should present an absence note to their teacher upon returning to school. This note should include: name, class teacher’s name, grade, and days 33

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absent, dates, reason for absence, and a parent signature.

Any student who is treated by a physician, dentist, or other medical or legal professional should obtain a note on official stationary and present this note to the Home Room Teacher upon returning to School. The note should specifically state all days excused, not just the one date that the student visited the professional’s office. The days mentioned in the formal note will be counted as “excused absences.” This note must be in the hands of the Home Room Teacher within five (5) days of returning from the absence.

Participation in After School Activities: Students must be in attendance ½ day (four hours) to participate in After School Activities for that day.

PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS REGARDING ATTENDANCE POLICY Regular School Attendance •

Regular school attendance shall be the responsibility of parents and students. In addition, the parent/guardian shall be required to justify each absence of the child by providing the reasons and explanations for the child’s absence to the school.

•

Teachers shall record absentees each period of the school day and report absences as required by the school. Parents/guardians should be notified each time their child is absent insofar as possible.

•

For each absence for which the reason is unknown, the School shall contact the student’s parent or guardian to determine the reason for the absence. The final authority for determining acceptability of the reason for the absence(s) shall rest with the Director.

TARDINESS/BEING LATE TO ARRIVE AT SCHOOL Middle School students need to be in the School before 8 am. It is the Parent’s responsibility to make sure the student arrives at the school before 8:00 am. Drop off times should be 34

between 7:30 am and 7:55 am. Students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. are considered tardy, and this will be recorded on the Student Attendance Record.

Elementary School students need to be in the school before 8:30 am.

Elementary and Middle School students who miss the Morning Assembly are considered tardy, and this will be recorded on the student’s Attendance Record (i.e. Gradelink and Report Cards).

All work missed because of tardiness will have to be made up.

Students who are tardy to school will face the following consequences: •

•

•

•

•

A student who accumulates six tardies will receive one after school detention for the duration of a half hour from 4:00 - 4:30 pm.

A student who accumulates 7–12 tardies will receive two after school detentions for the duration of a half hour each from 4:00 – 4:30 pm. In addition, these points will negatively impact the points earned by the student’s “House” in the “CHP House System.” This will also be a permanent record on the student’s Report Card.

A student who accumulates 13-18 tardies will receive two after school detentions for the duration of half hour each from 4:00 – 4:30 pm and will miss Recess. In addition, these points will negatively impact the points earned by the student’s “House” in the “CHP House System.” This will also be a permanent record on the student’s Report Card.

A student who accumulates 19-24 tardies will be assigned “service learning” work as deemed by the Director. In addition, these points will negatively impact the points earned by the student’s “House” in the “CHP House System.” This will also be a permanent record on the student’s Report Card.

Consequences will continue and escalate for each additional six tardies. In addition, these points will negatively impact the points earned by the student’s “House” in the “CHP House System.”

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IN SCHOOL PARTIES CHP encourages celebrations in the form of class parties.

However, all class parties must be coordinated with the classroom teacher.

OFF SITE PARTIES The School encourages parents to invite the entire class if possible for parties. If everyone is invited, the invitations can be handed out in School. Otherwise they need to be mailed.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES • • • •

Take pride of ownership in your School and help keep it clean.

Chewing gum is not permitted in the School or on the school bus.

The textbooks are school property and hence cannot be mutilated in any way.

Mark all clothing with a permanent marker or name tag.

BUS ETIQUETTE The bus service is provided for a very nominal fee. The bus route is decided based on the optimal way to operate the route.

Your child must be ready at the designated pick-up time. If your child misses the bus, please understand you need to make arrangements to drop the child at the school. In addition, in case of absence, please notify the bus driver the previous night.

TERMINATION OF ENROLLMENT Under certain circumstances, it may be necessary for the Administrator to decide to discontinue a child’s attendance.

Such a decision would be based on whether it is in the best interest of that child, the other children in the class, and the overall operation of the school. Every effort will be made to correct the problematic situation before a final decision is made.

Termination of enrollment may be the result of the following: • Non-payment of tuition • Abuse of children, staff, or property 36

• • •

Continued violation of Cedar Hill Prep School policies Disruptive or dangerous behavior The school’s inability to meet the child’s needs

Whenever possible a written notification of one week will be provided to the parent in the event of termination of enrollment.

REPORTING SUSPECTED ABUSE AND NEGLECT New Jersey State law requires that any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child may have been subjected to abuse or neglect must make report to the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.

Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing INFORMATION TO PARENTS Under provisions of the Manual of Requirements of Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A,et. seq.), every licensed child care center in New Jersey must provide to parents of enrolled children written information on parent visitation rights, State licensing requirements, child abuse/neglect reporting requirements and other child care matters. The center must comply with this requirement by reproducing and distributing to parents this written statement, prepared by the Office of Licensing, Child Care & Youth Residential Licensing, in the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In keeping with this requirement, the center must secure every parent’s signature attesting to his/her receipt of the information.

Cedar Hill Prep School is required by the State Child Care Center Licensing law to be licensed by the Office of Licensing, Child Care and Youth Residential Licensing, in the Department of Children and Families (DCF). A copy of our current license must be posted in a prominent location at our School. Look for it when you’re in the School.

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To be licensed, our School must comply with the Manual of Requirements of Child Care Centers (the official licensing regulations). The regulations cover such areas as: physical environment/life safety; staff qualifications, supervision, and staff/child ratios; program activities and equipment; health, food and nutrition; rest and sleep requirements; parent/community participation; administrative and record keeping requirements; and others.

Our School must have on the premises a copy of the Manual of Requirements of Child Care Centers and make it available to interested parents for review. If you would like to review our copy just ask any staff member. Parents may secure a copy of the Manual of Requirements by sending a check or money order for $5 made payable to the “Treasurer, State of New Jersey”, and mailing it to: NJ Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing, Publication Fees, P O Box 657, Trenton, NJ 08646-0657.

We encourage parents to discuss with us any questions or concerns about the policies and program of the School or the meaning, application or alleged violations of the Manual of Requirements of Child Care Centers. We will be happy to arrange a convenient opportunity for you to review and discuss these matters with us. If you suspect our School may be in violation of licensing requirements, you are entitled to report them to the Office of Licensing toll free at 1 (877) 667-9845. Of course, we would appreciate your bringing these concerns to our attention, too.

Our School must have a policy concerning the release of children to parents or people authorized by parents to be responsible for the child. Please discuss with us your plans for your child’s departure from the school. medicine and health care procedures and the management of communicable diseases. Please talk to us about these policies so we can work together to keep our children healthy.

Our school must have a policy concerning the expulsion of children from enrollment at the school. Please review 38

this policy so we can work together to keep your child in our school.

Parents are entitled to review the school’s copy of the Office of Licensing’s Inspection/Violation Reports on the School, which are issued after every State licensing inspection of our School. If there is a licensing complaint investigation, you are also entitle to review the Office’s Complaint Investigation Summary Report, as well as any letters of enforcement or other actions taken against the School during the current licensing period. Let us know if you wish to review them and we will make them available for your review.

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CEDAR HILL PREP SCHOOL Know Your Rights (All students) WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT? Sexual harassment is a serious problem for students at all educational levels. Students in elementary and secondary schools can be victims of sexual harassment. This problem is more common than you might think because many students are scared or too embarrassed to report sexual harassment.

It is different from flirting, playing around, or other types of behavior that you enjoy or welcome. Sexual harassment can be requests for sexual favors or unwelcome sexual behavior that is bad enough or happens often enough to make you feel uncomfortable, scared or confused, and that interferes with your schoolwork or your ability to participate in extracurricular activities or attend classes.

Sexual harassment can be verbal (comments about your body, spreading sexual rumors, sexual remarks or accusations, dirty jokes or stories), physical (grabbing, rubbing, flashing or mooning, touching, pinching in a sexual way, sexual assault) or visual (display of naked pictures or sex-related objects, obscene gestures). Sexual harassment can happen to girls and boys.

Sexual harassers can be fellow students, teachers, principals, janitors, coaches, and other school officials.

There are two kinds of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile environment.

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Quid pro quo (in Latin it means “this for that”) sexual harassment occurs when a teacher or school employee offers you a better grade or treats you better if you do something sexual. It could also be a threat to lower your grade or treat you worse than other students if you refuse to go along with a request for a 40

sexual favor. For example, if your teacher says, “I’ll give you an ‘A’ if you go out with me,” or “I’ll fail you in this class if you don’t have sex with me,” this is sexual harassment.

Mary is a student in Mr. Smith’s history class. Mr. Smith is everyone’s favorite teacher, but he has started to make Mary feel uncomfortable. He asks her to come to his room alone after school to discuss her schoolwork. When she shows up, he only talks about how pretty she is and once or twice he put his hand on her knee. He always asks for a hug before she leaves.

He is now suggesting that they hold these after school meetings at a café in town. He tells her that she must continue to attend these extra discussion sessions if she wants to earn a good grade in his class.

•

Hostile environment sexual harassment occurs when unwanted sexual touching, comments, and/or gestures are so bad or occur so often that it interferes with your schoolwork, makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe at school, or prevents you from participating in or benefiting from a school program or activity. This type of harassment does not have to involve a threat or promise of benefit in exchange for a sexual favor. The harassment can be from your teacher, school officials, or other students.

Luis gets constant attention from a particular group of girls in his school. They send him sexually explicit notes, blow kisses at him, and rub up against him in the hallway. They wait for him when he gets off the school bus and when he gets out of class. They always seem to show up wherever he is. Someone keeps calling his house, asking for him and then hanging up, and Luis is sure it’s those girls. He has even seen them drive by his house in the afternoon. At first, he thought it was funny, but it’s starting to embarrass and frustrate him. He’s started to avoid going out so he won’t have to see them, and he’s pretended to be sick a few times so he didn’t have to go to school.

Diana’s school soccer team coach is constantly telling her sexual jokes and making suggestive comments.

During practice, he whistles and winks at her when she runs by him. Diana told the coach that his behavior makes her uncomfortable, but he responded by saying that she needs to learn how to accept compliments.

Recently, he showed her a calendar of bikini-clad female athletes and told her she is sexy enough to 41

pose for such a magazine. She is thinking of quitting the soccer team just to avoid the coach.

Elisha is a student in a science class where Mr. Burns is a teacher-in-training. Elisha uses a wheelchair and usually has to wait for her aide after class. Mr. Burns often waits with her and at first she liked talking with him. He says she inspires him and sometimes strokes her hair. Their conversations have included him asking questions about her body, how it works, and what things she can do. One day he confessed being curious about whether girls like her can have sex when they’re old enough. When Elisha said talking about that with him was weird, he got flustered and said he would make sure she got an A if she didn’t mention their conversation to anyone

Sexual Harassment is Against the Law Federal Law: The federal law prohibiting sexual harassment in schools is Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) which prohibits any person, on the basis of sex, to be subjected to discrimination in an educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The law applies to any academic, extracurricular (student organizations and athletics), research, occupational training, and other educational programs from preschool to graduate school that receives or benefit from federal funding. The entire institution falls under Title IX even if only one program or activity receives federal funds.

Under Title IX, a school is required to have and distribute a policy against sex discrimination, particularly one that addresses sexual harassment. Such a policy lets students, parents, and employees know that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. A school is also required to adopt and publish grievance procedures for resolving sex discrimination complaints, including complaints of sexual harassment. This provides an effective means for promptly and appropriately responding to sexual harassment complaints.

Title IX also requires that schools evaluate current policies and practices to ensure the institution is in compliance with Title IX. Schools are also required to appoint at least one employee responsible for coordinating Title IX compliance efforts.

Finally, it is illegal to intimidate, threaten, or coerce a person who has taken action under Title IX. 42

States Laws: Most states have a law that prohibits sexual harassment in schools. Contact your local branch of the Office of Civil Rights for more information on these laws.

What can I do if I am being sexually harassed?

Some students who are being sexually harassed are too embarrassed to voice a complaint, are intimidated by their harasser, or think that little can be done to end the harassment.

Many students think that it is not a serious problem and that it will stop if they just ignore it. These are all understandable reactions to difficult situations. Sexual harassment, however, is a serious issue. Many students who have been sexually harassed report a drop in their grades, and some students have had to transfer to different schools, drop classes, or leave school altogether.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? If you think you are being sexually harassed, you need to tell someone who can help you stop it. Here are some things you and/or your parents can do:

•

Don’t blame yourself. The person who is harassing you is the one doing something wrong, and you haven’t done anything to cause the harassment, even if you flirted with this person or liked him/her.

•

Say “No” Clearly. Tell the person who is harassing you that his/her behavior offends you. They may not realize how hurtful their behavior is and may need a clear message from you to stop. If the harassment does not end, promptly write a letter asking the harasser to stop.

Keep a copy of the letter.

•

Write down what happened. When someone harasses you or makes you feel uncomfortable, write it down in a notebook that is just for this purpose. Write down what happened, the date it happened, where it happened, and who else may have seen or heard the harassment.

Also write down what you did in response, and how the harassment made you feel. Do not write other information in this notebook, such as appointments or homework assignments. Save any notes or pictures the harasser sent you. It is a good idea to keep the record somewhere besides school, such as your home or another safe place.

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•

Report the Harassment. It is very important that you tell your parents or another adult, like a teacher or guidance counselor, about the harassment. If you want the school to do something about the harassment, you MUST tell your teacher, Mr. Seeley or Ms. Nan that you are being sexually harassed. If you do not feel comfortable telling the school official yourself, get the help of your parents and/or a teacher to go with you. If you and/or your parents tell a school official verbally, also do it in writing and keep a copy for yourself. The law says the school has to stop sexual harassment of a student whether the harasser is a teacher or another student(s), but the school is only required to stop the harassment if someone in authority at the school knows what is happening to you. So you MUST report the harassment to a school official.

•

File a Complaint With a Government Agency. If nothing happens after complaining to school officials, you and your parents can file a complaint against the school with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Generally, you must file a complaint with the OCR within 180 days of an act of discrimination. You can call them, and they will explain how to file a complaint. (Contact information is listed below.)

•

File a Lawsuit. You can also file a lawsuit against the school... If you have any questions about finding a lawyer or filing a lawsuit, you can call Equal Rights Advocates free Advice & Counseling Line at 800/8394ERA. (See information below.)

It is important to remember that retaliation for taking action under Title IX is illegal. If you feel that someone is mistreating you or treating you unfairly because you have complained about discrimination, you should contact the Office of Civil Rights.

Social Media Guidelines for Students 1.

Be aware of what you post online. Social media venues including wikis, blogs, photo and video sharing sites are very public. What you contribute leaves a digital footprint for all to see. Do not post anything you wouldn't want friends, enemies, parents, teachers, or a future employer to see.

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2.

Follow the school's code of conduct when writing online. It is acceptable to disagree with someone else's opinions. However, do it in a respectful way. Make sure that criticism is constructive and not hurtful. What is inappropriate in the classroom is inappropriate online.

3.

Be safe online. Never give out personal information, including, but not limited to, last names, phone numbers, addresses, exact birthdates, and pictures. Do not share your password with anyone besides your teachers and parents.

4.

Linking to other websites to support your thoughts and ideas is recommended. However, be sure to read the entire article prior to linking to ensure that all information is appropriate for a school setting.

5.

Do your own work! Do not use other people's intellectual property without their permission. It is a violation of copyright law to copy and paste other's thoughts. When paraphrasing another's idea(s) be sure to cite your source with the URL. It is good practice to hyperlink to your sources.

6.

Be aware that pictures may also be protected under copyright laws. Verify you have permission to use the image or it is under Creative Commons Attribution.

7.

How you represent yourself online is an extension of yourself. Do not misrepresent yourself by using someone else's identity.

8.

Blog and wiki posts should be well written. Follow writing conventions including proper grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. If you edit someone else's work, be sure it is in the spirit of improving the writing.

9.

If you run across inappropriate material that makes you feel uncomfortable, or is not respectful, tell your teacher right away.

10. Students who do not abide by these terms and conditions may lose their opportunity to take part in the project and/or access to future use of online tools.

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Parents are required to adhere to the following guidelines: 1.

Parents should expect communication from teachers prior to their child’s involvement in any project using online social media applications, i.e., blogs, wikis, podcast, etc.

2.

Parents will need to sign a release form for students when teachers set up social media activities for classroom use.

3.

Parents will not attempt to destroy or harm any information online.

4.

Parents will not use classroom social media sites for any illegal activity, including violation of data privacy laws.

5.

Parents are highly encouraged to read and/or participate in social media projects.

6.

Parents should not distribute any information that might be deemed personal about other students participating in the social media project.

7.

Parents should not upload or include any information that does not also meet the Student Guidelines.

COUNSELING SERVICES AT CEDAR HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL Cedar Hill Preparatory School seeks to provide your children with a holistic environment “where your child's awareness is increased and exposed to innumerable possibilities.” Towards this end, Cedar Hill Prep School has a child psychologist available for student and family counseling.

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EXPECTATIONS of STUDENTS (Elementary and Middle School)

State Law requires that the School adopt a code of Student Conduct for its students in Grades K – 8.

Parents are urged to read and discuss this portion of the Family Handbook with their children in order to help them adjust more successfully at school.

Parents are encouraged to keep in close contact with the School. The support of parents is consistently needed so that we can provide a safe and friendly place for children to learn.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS A. Students have the responsibility to know and obey rules and laws which govern their conduct while at School or on School property and to expect consequences for any inappropriate behavior.

B. Students have the responsibility to learn and use the educational experiences provided for them.

C. Students have the responsibility to respect the rights of other persons who may have different points of view on some issues.

D. Students have an obligation to attend School.

E. Students have a responsibility to respect other persons and the property of others in the School setting and at School activities.

F. Whether on the School campus or off-campus at Schoolsponsored activities or bus trips, students have the responsibility to conduct themselves so that disciplinary action will not be necessary.

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G. Students have the responsibility to take care of the property (e.g., textbooks, equipment, materials) provided to them by the School.

H. Students have the responsibility to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Students who do not desire to stand for personal or religious convictions have the choice to remain seated quietly, stand without reciting the pledge, or leave the classroom during the pledge. A reason does not have to be given.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO STUDENTS The possession of illegal drugs and the unlawful use of alcohol and/or prohibitive substances are both HARMFUL and WRONG! Damage by Students Any malicious or willful act which destroys, injures, mars, defaces, or otherwise alters any school building, grounds material, equipment, or other school property by a student enrolled in the school shall cause parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis of the offending student to restore or replace such damaged property to the satisfaction of the Director or be assessed to pay all costs to restore or replace such damaged property as determined by the true value established by the Director.

DISCIPLINE A. Staff Involvement All school personnel shall be informed and responsible for all school administrative rules concerning discipline. All school personnel shall become involved in the discipline process anywhere on campus or at school functions off campus. A good 48

faith effort shall be made by the Director to employ parental assistance or other alternative measures prior to suspension.

B. Policies The following policies shall be used to govern student conduct at all school-sponsored activities and at any time the student is under school jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of students to become knowledgeable of and to abide by these conduct policies. The School Director shall be responsible for informing students of conduct policies at the beginning of each school year. Violation of law shall be reported to proper legal authorities.

C. Notice to Law Enforcement School administrators shall ensure that the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified as soon as possible when an adult or a student commits any of the following offenses on school property, on school-sponsored transportation, or during a school-sponsored activity: homicide (murder, manslaughter); sexual battery; armed robbery; aggravated battery; battery or aggravated battery on a teacher or other school personnel; kidnapping or abduction; arson; possession, use or sale of any firearm; possession, use or sale of any explosive device, or any other offense, though not listed above, the nature of which is such that it impacts the safety of the school or the community.

D. Student Conduct - School Based Offenses 1. Cheating - Cheating is an offense which shall be handled by the school in whatever manner will best serve the interest and development of the student consistent with law and policy.

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2. Misconduct - Actions by students which are insubordinate or show disrespect for others or general misconduct which disrupts the learning situation shall not be tolerated. If the situation cannot be handled by the teacher, it shall be referred to an administrator. Definite corrective action appropriate to the individual situation shall be taken which may include suspension or expulsion.

3. Student Dress - Instances in which students deliberately defy the dress code established by their school shall be treated the same as misconduct.

4. Public Affection - Public affection is in poor taste.

Students who continue to engage in public affection after being warned by the teacher shall be referred to the appropriate administrator. If the problem continues after a warning, it shall constitute an act of misconduct, which may result in suspension.

5. Use Technology Safely Computers/technology are provided for students to complete teacher-assigned work in courses or programs at the Middle School. (See Code of Conduct/Discipline Technology Usage Policy)

Do not attempt to view websites not assigned by the teacher for school projects.

Violations may result in the loss of computer access privileges, in which case missed work must be made up as homework.

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6. Verbal Abuse or Profanity – Verbal abuse shall be interpreted to include any profane, obscene, vulgar, racial slur or slang or unnecessarily crude utterance, gesture, or display reflecting on an individual’s gender, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, gender orientation, social and family background, linguistic preference, political affiliation, or disability which has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. It shall not matter for disciplinary purposes whether it is directed toward the teacher, classmates, or merely done overtly. Such instances shall receive the appropriate action which may include suspension.

7. Theft or Pilfering - A student involved in the act of stealing or in possession of stolen property may be suspended from school. Parents or guardians may be requested to come for a conference with school officials.

Efforts shall be made to secure reimbursement or replacement of the money or items taken. Criminal charges may be filed. The student may be recommended for expulsion.

8. Vandalism and Tampering - Any deliberate or wanton abuse of school or private property shall be considered vandalism. Cases of vandalism by students shall be reported to the appropriate administrator as soon as possible. Action, regardless of the value of the damage, may result in suspension of the student from school. The parent or guardian shall be requested to meet with the school officials to make arrangements for restitution for damage. Criminal charges may be filed; the student may be recommended for expulsion.

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9. Violent Behavior - Acts of assault, violence, intimidation, fighting, or extreme antagonism toward other persons shall immediately be reported to the appropriate administrator. Definite corrective action shall be taken. If, upon investigation, the facts warrant such, the student shall be suspended or recommended for expulsion.

Criminal charges may also be filed.

10. Threats - Serious threats made by a student against the life of another student, teacher or other school personnel shall immediately be reported to the appropriate administrator. Definite corrective action appropriate to the individual situation shall be taken which may include suspension or a recommendation for expulsion. The school administrator shall inform the person to whom the threat was directed of the situation.

11. False Accusations - Accusations or charges made by a student against a teacher, administrator or other school personnel shall be reported to the Director/ Principal who shall conduct a complete investigation of the accusations or charges made by the student. Any student found to have intentionally made false accusations or charges that jeopardize the professional reputation, employment, or professional certification of a teacher, administrator or other school personnel, shall be subject to disciplinary action for a serious breach of conduct which may include a recommendation for expulsion.

12. Failure to Report Serious Offenses – Students who are aware of serious offenses, which include but are not limited to the possession of weapons, firearms, and drugs, must report that information to a teacher or 52

administrator at their earliest opportunity. Failure to report serious offenses may be cause for disciplinary action.

E. Student Conduct-Criminal Offenses

1.

Dangerous or Disruptive Items - Any item in the possession of or being used by a student which disrupts the class, distracts his/her attention from the class, defaces school property, or in any way endangers the safety of himself/herself or others shall be taken by the teacher and held until proper disposition of the item(s) can be made. Teachers are not to destroy such items. Students who refuse to cooperate shall be reported to the appropriate administrator for further action. Possession or use of a dangerous or disruptive item while on school property or in attendance at a school function is grounds for suspension and/or expulsion.

2.

Extortion - A student who blackmails or otherwise threatens another student for the payment of money of any sum or other consideration shall be suspended from school and parents or guardians shall be requested to come for a conference with school officials. A second offense shall be that of mandatory suspension of ten (10) days and automatic recommendation for expulsion.

3.

Arson - A student who deliberately or wantonly sets a fire to school property or while involved in a school activity either as a prank or deliberately to do damage to the property shall be suspended from school and the parent or guardian shall be requested to come for a 53

conference with school officials and to make arrangements for restitution for damages. Maximum penalty, depending on damage and intent, shall be expulsion and referral to proper law enforcement agencies.

4.

Inciting Others or Disruptions - A student who counsels another person to riot, disrupt, or be absent or otherwise violate school rules, or who disrupts or interferes with the lawful administration or functions of the school, shall be subject to suspension or expulsion depending upon severity of the act.

5.

Cyber Bullying is the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone, text messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal web sites, electronic social media services and defamatory online personal pooling web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, pervasive, severe and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to threaten or harm others, or creates a threatening environment which substantially disrupts or interferes with the operation of a school or an individual student’s ability to receive an education.

6.

Harassment, intimidation or bullying means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing 54

characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students and that 1) a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his property; 2) has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or 3) creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with the student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

The School is committed to providing a safe, positive, productive, and nurturing educational environment for all of its students. The School encourages the promotion of positive interpersonal relations between members of the School community. Aggressive behavior toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This prohibition includes physical, verbal, and psychological abuse. The School will not tolerate any gestures, comments, threats, or actions which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm or personal degradation. This policy applies to all activities in the School, including activities on School property or while enroute to or from School sponsored activities and those occurring off School property if the student or employee is at any School-sponsored, Schoolapproved or school-related activities or functions, such as field trips or events where students are under the 55

School’s control, or where an employee is engaged in School business.

Aggressive behavior is defined as inappropriate conduct that is repeated enough, or serious enough, to negatively impact a student’s educational, physical, or emotional well-being. This type of behavior is a form of intimidation and harassment, although it need not be based on any of the legally protected characteristics, such as gender, race, color, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, religion, or disability. It would include, but not be limited to, such behaviors as stalking, bullying/cyber bullying, intimidation, menacing, coercion, name-calling, taunting, making threats, and hazing. Any student who believes s/he has been or is the victim of aggressive behavior should immediately report the situation to the Teacher, Principal, or Director.

Every student is encouraged, and every staff member is required, to report any situation that they believe to be aggressive behavior directed toward a student.

Reports may be made to those identified above.

F. General Offenses - Violation of any other law by students while on the School campus or at a School function will result in corrective action. The student may be suspended or recommended for expulsion and referral to proper law enforcement agencies.

G. Corporal Punishment-Control of Students - A teacher or other member of the certificated staff shall assume such authority for the control of students who are assigned to him/her by the Principal/Director, or designee and shall keep good order in the classroom. The use of corporal punishment is prohibited. Alternative disciplinary procedures, which may 56

include time-out, peer review, or other forms of positive reinforcement, should be used to bring about appropriate student classroom behavior.

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*ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLSTUDENT CONTRACT* Cedar Hill Prep School is committed to providing every student with the opportunity to receive effective classroom instruction.

I, _________________________________________, First Name Last Name understand in order to reach my fullest potential, I must adhere to the Cedar Hill Prep School Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is a contract in place to ensure my safety, academic success, and personal development.

The Student Code of Conduct is as follows: Be Respectful • Don’t make any person – adult or child – feel badly about themselves.

• Do not talk back to or argue with adults.

• Do not use profane or inappropriate language.

• Acknowledge adults when being spoken to and when given instructions.

• Respect school property and the property of others.

• Do not steal from others.

• Do not damage the property of other people or that of the school.

• Do not use or possess obscene or vulgar materials.

Violations will result (minimally) in Level 2 consequences Be Honest • Be academically honest: Do your own work, not that of your friends or adults.

• Do not plagiarize: Do not copy sentences or paragraphs written by another person or website without giving full credit to the author. Repeated violations may result in failure of academic subjects.

• Complete your homework on time.

• Do not forge another person’s signature on any document.

Violations will result (minimally) in level 2 consequences

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Sit Big and Be Engaged and on Task • Avoid noises, giggling, unnecessary talking/shouting, gum chewing, tapping pencils/pens.

• Sit up straight, feet and chair on the floor, and be ready to learn.

• Actively participate.

• Follow directions the first time they’re given.

Aim for Silent Transitions throughout the Campus • When walking in the hallways during transitions between classes, lunch, or resources, be as quiet as possible as other classes may be in session.

• Walk quietly as you go from class to class across campus.

Note: Warnings may be issued to individuals or groups.

Depending upon the severity of the behavior, first time consequences may be level 2 consequences Use Technology Safely • Computers/technology is provided for students to complete teacher-assigned work in courses or programs at the Middle School. (See Code of Conduct/Discipline - Technology Usage Policy).

• Do not attempt to view websites not assigned by the teacher for school projects.

Violations may result in the loss of computer access privileges, in which case missed work must be made up as homework.

No Physical Contact Between Students or Between Students/Staff/Administration/Teachers • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

• Students should refrain from PDA – public display of affection (e.g., hugging, kissing, holding hands, etc.).

Of course, in circumstances involving sorrow or joy, hugging is natural and acceptable.

General Misconduct • DO NOT  Be in areas for which you have not been authorized or areas that are unsupervised.  Take more than 5 minutes to pack at the end of class and get to your next class.

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•

DO     

Be at school by the time stipulated each day, and be unpacked and ready to learn before the first class.

Keep your silenced cell phone and other electronics in your backpack or locker during school hours.

Respect the rights, feelings and safety of others.

Use common sense and avoid conduct violations not covered in the above rules.

Write down assignments each day and have papers signed and returned overnight.

No Aggressive Behavior • Do not vandalize or destroy school property or property of others.

• Do not use profane or inappropriate language toward adults.

• There is to be NO fighting, which includes “playfighting” or “horse-playing” or “bullying” or “hazing.”

• Do not disrupt the normal operation of the school.

Violations will result immediately in Level 3 consequences Zero Tolerance of Serious Illegal Behaviors Do NOT engage in these behaviors: • • •

Assault Possession of Dangerous Weapons and Instruments Possession of Narcotics, Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs, and Tobacco

Consequences Level of consequence

Frequency of Violation

Consequence

Level 1

1st Time

Verbal Warning

2nd Time

 

In Class Time-Out May result in points deducted from the grade for the class.

3rd time



Out of class Time-Out (in designated room for 10-15 minutes) Will results in points deducted from the grade for the class



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4th time

Level 2

  

 

Level 3

 

Detention until 4:30 PM served that day (no excuses or exceptions) AND/OR Out of Class Time-Out (with work to complete) Immediate Phone Call to Parent (a conference will be scheduled with Parent) Office Referral Out of Class Time-Out (with work to complete) Immediate Phone Call to Parent (a conference will be scheduled with Parent) Suspension (type to be determined)

Lunch or “Specials” detentions may be imposed to complete any missed work.

Phone calls may be made to parents at teacher’s discretion for any violations.

CEDAR HILL PREP SCHOOL EXPULSION POLICY Unfortunately, sometimes there are reasons we have to expel a child from our school either on a short term or permanent basis.

We want you to know that we will do everything possible to work with the family of the child in order to prevent this policy from being reinforced. The following are reasons we may have to expel or suspend a child from the school: IMMEDIATE CAUSES FOR EXPULSION 1.

2.

3.

The student is at risk of causing serious injury to other students or himself/herself.

Parent threatens physical or intimidating actions toward staff members, administration or management.

Parent exhibits verbal abuse to staff in front of enrolled students.

PARENTAL ACTIONS FOR STUDENT’S EXPULSION • • • •

Failure to pay/habitual lateness in payments Failure to complete required forms, including the student’s immunization records.

Habitual tardiness when picking up your child.

Verbal abuse to staff.

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STUDENT’S ACTIONS FOR EXPULSION • • • •

Failure of student to adjust after a reasonable amount of time.

Uncontrollable tantrums/angry outbursts.

Ongoing physical or verbal abuse to staff or other students.

Excessive physical infractions including biting, pushing, or any harmful acts.

PROACTIVE ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO PREVENT EXPULSION • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Staff will try to redirect student from negative behavior.

Staff will reassess classroom environment, appropriate activities, and supervision.

Staff will always use positive methods and language whilst disciplining students.

Staff will praise appropriate behaviors.

Staff will consistently apply consequences for rules.

Student will be given verbal warnings.

Student will be given time to regain control.

Student’s disruptive behavior will be documented and maintained in confidentiality.

Parent/Guardian will be notified verbally.

Parent/Guardian will be given written copies of the disruptive behaviors that might lead to expulsion.

The Director, Teachers, Staff and Parent/Guardian will have a conference(s) to discuss how to promote positive behaviors.

The parent will be given literature or other resources regarding methods of improving behavior.

Recommendation of evaluation by professional consultation.

Recommendation of evaluation by local school district child study team.

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SCHEDULE OF EXPULSION •

• •

•

If after the remedial actions above have not worked, the student’s parent/guardian will be advised verbally and in writing about the student’s or parent’s behavior warranting an expulsion. An expulsion action is meant to be a period of time so that the parent/guardian may work on the student’s behavior or come to an agreement with the School.

The parent/guardian will be informed regarding the length of the expulsion period.

The parent/guardian will be informed about the expected behavioral changes required in order for the student or parent to return to the School.

The parent/guardian will be given a specific expulsion date that allows the parent sufficient time to seek an alternate school (approximately one or two weeks’ notice depending on risk to other students' welfare or safety). Failure of the student/parent to satisfy the terms of the plan may result in permanent expulsion from the School.

A STUDENT WILL NOT BE EXPELLED If a student’s parent(s): • • • •

Made a complaint to the Department of Youth and Family Services regarding the School’s violations of the licensing requirements.

Reported abuse or neglect occurring at the school.

Questioned the School regarding policies and procedures.

Were given inadequate time to make alternate arrangements for School.

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CHP HOMEWORK POLICIES EXPECTATIONS - Students are expected to complete assigned homework and practice, in order to • Strengthen learning outcomes • Develop responsibility GUIDELINES – Understand the four types of homework. Know when and why to have students practice: • Memorization of basic rules, algorithms, or laws so the skill becomes rote • Increase in skill speed, used for improving students' abilities to apply these skills in more complex problem solving • Deepening understanding of a concept—providing students time to read further, elaborating on a new idea and expanding their understanding • Preparation for the following day's learning, such as an advance organizer or cue to increase readiness for new information CONSEQUENCES Homework Lunch Room - Students will be required to finish their homework in the HOMEWORK ROOM during Lunch, under supervision.

HELPFUL TIPS • If homework is not handed in 1st thing in the morning, students run the risk of it not being corrected until the next day.

• Students are urged not to accumulate their homework.

It makes learning more difficult.

• Learning Strategies and Time Management are keys to learning.

.

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CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOLS DISINFECTING - Building walls disinfected to be resistant to viruses and spreading germs.

• • •

Vinyl covered drywalls – similar to hospitals and medical facilities Vinyl sheet walls - wipe clean surfaces Floors – vinyl and wipe clean surfaces

FACILITY MAINTENANCE INDOOR AIR QUALITY

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HVAC Systems have Hepa Filters, Air Exchange to Ensure Air Circulation

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Windows For Fresh Air

All 4 buildings have:

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UV Light Air Purification System

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RFG Commercial RTU UV Light photohydroionization technology

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RFG Halo LED In-Duct Air purification system

OUTDOOR FRESH AIR QUALITY - 9 Acre Campus - Experiential Learning SAFETY PROTOCOL

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All students will wear masks.

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Temperature Scans Of All Adults, Children

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Deep Cleaning Protocol

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Disinfecting Protocol

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Using disinfectant fogger and spraying Hypochlorous Acid Hypochlorous Fast Facts: Hypochlorous is naturally produced in the white blood cells of all mammals. The white blood cells make it as needed to kill pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungus.

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Hand Washing Protocol

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Contact Tracing App To Be Downloaded By All Adults And Students Who Have Phones

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TRANSPORTATION (BUS/VAN)

• Bus capacity will be limited to 50% or 10-12 students at one time.

• ALL students and staff will wear masks and have their temperature checked before boarding the bus.

• Students will sit in “marked” seats only based on the driver's discretion.

• Students will be dropped off near the cafeteria entrance where they will be greeted by a CHP staff member and walked into the building (no temperature check required as it was taken before they boarded the bus).

• Bus will be quickly sanitized before heading back out for a second pick up.

• The van will be used for single, emergency pick ups only. Same rules apply as above, including masks and temperature checks.

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

• CHP will adjust its schedule to have more staggered arrival times to avoid overcrowding in the parking lot.

• ALL parents/students and staff members will be required to wear masks.

• Parents WILL NOT be allowed to walk their child into the building. They will need to park and walk their child to a temperature check station in the front of the main building.

• A CHP staff member will assist in forming two lines, maintaining 6 feet distance, for temperature checks before entering the building.

• After the student is admitted on campus, the parent must exit the parking lot.

• A student who has a temperature of 100.4 or above, or is showing any signs or symptoms of illness, will not be admitted on campus.

• If the child has no temperature or signs of illness, they will walk directly to their homeroom, maintaining 6 feet of separation from any other child or staff member.

• Students will keep their backpacks next to them at their desks.

• Throughout the day, students will remain in their homeroom building, with the exception of art, physical education, recess, and visits to the nurse.

CLASSROOMS

• Classrooms will be set up so that desks are 6 feet apart (to the best of our ability).

• Teachers will teach lessons to the students in the classroom as well as virtually to any students at home.

• Students and teachers will be expected to wear masks at all times with the exception of while eating snacks or lunch.

• Students will stay in their classrooms throughout the day while teachers will move from class to class (this includes all specials classes with the exception of art, physical education and recess).

• Students will only leave their classroom to use the bathroom, visit the school nurse, art and gym classes, and outdoor recess (lunch will be in classrooms).

• Teachers will keep a log book indicating when students leave a classroom to use the bathroom or visit the nurse and their return to the classroom.

• Students will have hand sanitizer at their desks as well as hand sanitizing pumps located in each classroom and in hallways.

• Students will be encouraged to wash their hands frequently throughout the day as well as sanitize hands periodically.

• Windows in classrooms should be open whenever possible to allow fresh air in.

• No student will bully another student for coughing or sneezing, and no student will make fun of another student’s mask. Punishments can range from a verbal warning up to and including suspension.

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HALLWAYS

• 6 feet of separation between students should be maintained in the hallways whenever possible. Masks should be worn at all times.

• When leaving a classroom to use the bathroom or visit the nurse, teachers will sign students in and out in a classroom log book.

• We will not utilize lockers or hallway hooks until further notice.

LUNCH

• Lunch will be in classrooms. The cafeteria will be used for lower school gym classes.

Any prep will be done in the hallway outside the cafeteria.

• Brown bag lunches from home will be encouraged. However, Catering Solutions sends their meals individually packaged so this may continue as an option.

• Students will be allowed to remove their masks while they eat.

• Garbages should be emptied after lunch and cans sprayed with Lysol.

• No sharing or exchanging food will be allowed.

• Lunches and snacks should not require reheating or any other preparation.

OUTDOOR RECESS

• Students will need fresh air and outdoor recess is encouraged.

• No physical games or sports will be allowed, including basketball, soccer and pavement football.

• The playground will be limited to 50% capacity, and students should maintain 6 feet of separation.

• All students in the fields or on the pavement should maintain 6 feet of separation.

While outside, if students maintain 6 feet of separation, masks may be removed.

• All students will wear masks upon re entering any building.

• Equipment, including basketballs, soccer balls, and the playground will be sanitized regularly.

GYM CLASS

• No team sports will be allowed.

• Students must maintain 6 feet of separation at all times in gym class.

• Masks need to be worn at all times during gym class.

• Exercises, walking, and running will be some of the main activities.

• All equipment will need to be sanitized regularly.

• Students may remove their masks if gym class is held outdoors.

• Cafeteria will be used for Preschool-2nd grade gym classes.

• Gym classes will not need to be zoomed or shown virtually.

ISOLATION ROOM

• There is a planned Isolation room located in the “French Room” of the administration building.

• Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be placed in this room, not the nurse's office.

• Access can be gained through the carport door to avoid entrance through main doors.

• “If exhibiting any signs of illness or having a temperature of 100.4 or above, the student or teacher will be sent home.

• If there are concerns of COVID-19, the school nurse will inform the Health Department.

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DISMISSAL

• Parents are to park and go to the table at the entrance to have their child paged.

• Once paged, students will leave the classroom and walk directly to their parents.

• To expedite the dismissal process and maintain COVID-19 protocols, parents and students must then leave campus.

• Masks will be worn at all times during dismissal.

• Aftercare students will be escorted by staff to designated areas.

AFTERCARE

• Students will be separated by grade(s) based on the number of students per room.

• Students will continue to wear masks, unless eating snack, while in aftercare.

• 6 feet of separation will continue during aftercare.

• All aftercare staff will wear masks.

• If students go outside for recess, follow recess procedures listed above.

• Teachers will keep a log book indicating when students leave the aftercare room to go to the bathroom or school nurse and when they return.

AFTERCARE PICK UP

• No parents will be allowed to enter the building.

• All pick ups should be done at the front door entrance.

• Parents will give the name of the child being picked up and wait for their child.

• Children will be called to the front for pick up.

VENDORS

• ALL vendors, inspectors and visitors will be required to wear a mask while entering any building on campus.

• ALL vendors will log in, receive a visitors pass, and log out upon leaving the facility.

• Vendors should maintain 6 feet of separation from all students and adults and will always be escorted on campus by a staff member.

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STUDENT & PARENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I understand in order to reach my fullest potential, I must adhere to the Cedar Hill Prep School Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is a contract in place to ensure my safety, academic success, and personal development.

By signing this contract, I agree to follow the Cedar Hill Prep Student Code of Conduct and the Policies and Procedures set forth in the Cedar Hill Preparatory School’s Family Handbook.

Student name (please print) _________________________________ Student signature Date _____________________________Grade Attending__________

As the parent of __________________________________________, Student’s name I have read the entire contents of the Cedar Hill Preparatory School Family Handbook and have reviewed it with my child.

I commit to helping Cedar Hill Prep follow the procedures and policies so that every rule is followed for the greater good of the School Community.

Parent name (please print) _________________________________________________________ Parent signature Date Home phone Work phone Cell phone Other phone Homeroom Teacher Date Principal Date Director Date

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152 Cedar Grove Lane Somerset, NJ 08873 Tel: 732-356-5400 • Fax: 732-356-5409 www.cedarhillprep.com Š Copyright 2018. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole, or in part in any form.