For Parents:

Parent Handbook: Section 2 - Morning and Afternoon Procedures

Jump to ... School Hours | Attendance |  Morning Arrival | Dismissal |  Workshops | Extended Day |  Summer Camp | Storm Closings |  Transportation | Car Pools |
School Hours
	Toddler classes begin at 8:50AM/ 12:35PM; Primary classes begin at 8:45AM/12:30 PM; Elementary begins at 8:15 AM. The school cannot be responsible for students who arrive at school early unless they are enrolled in the Rainbow Club Program.
Attendance
	All Acorn students, even our youngest, are expected to attend school on a daily basis, arriving before the start of the school day. Even though Acorn is less formal and more flexible than many schools, consistent attendance and prompt arrival are still essential. Students are expected to be in class on time and to be present in class for the full school day (or for the full morning or afternoon session in the case of younger students enrolled for the half-day option). Late arrival is disruptive and inconsiderate to the rest of the class, and nothing can be more disruptive to a child’s education than irregular attendance. We depend on your family’s full support in this area. If we find that your child is arriving late more than three times in a semester, we will need to meet to work out a solution. It is important that you keep your child’s absences from school to a minimum. Please plan your vacations with Acorn’s calendar in mind. Consistency and routine are important to every child’s development. Every time a child misses school for any reason, there is a period of readjustment back into the routine of work. The longer the absence, or when a child consistently misses a day or two of school here and a day or two there, the more detrimental it becomes to his educational development. Picking your child up early: Naturally, there will be occasions where you will need to take your child out of school early for a doctors appointment or similar obligation. To ensure that your child will be ready, please send in a note to the teachers letting them know the time that you will be picking him up. When you arrive at school, you will need to stop by the office to sign your child out. Saying Good-bye Tips For Toddler & Primary Parents On Separation Initially, it can be difficult for parents and young children to separate at the beginning of the school year. We have found that a short and positive good-bye is easiest for the child. The prolonged good-bye often makes the separation more difficult. Feel free to call the school for reassurance that your child has settled in and is adjusting well.
Morning Arrival
	The School assigns staff members to greet students in their family cars as they arrive and to assist the younger children in getting to class. If you prefer to walk your child to class, please park in one of the designated parking spaces. Children’s House Carline 8:15-8:25 Great Oaks 8:35-8:50 Black, Chinquapin & White Oaks 8:45-8:55 Toddler Two 12:25-12:30 Afternoon Primary students The school driveway can accommodate only one-way traffic. Please enter the driveway and form a car line in the left half of the inbound lane. Morning carline is from 8:35-8:50 AM and afternoon carline is from 12:25-12:35 PM. Any child dropped off earlier than 8:35 AM must be taken to the Breakfast Club morning program in their appropriate building. (toddler in Toddler House; primary & elementary in Greenhouse) There will be a $8.00/hour fee for this service ($4.00/half hour or any part). Toddler House and Greenhouse Morning Arrival: 8:35-8:45 Red Oak 8:45-8:50 Toddler No parking spaces are available during these times. If you choose to park and bring your child in, please plan to arrive before 8:30 or after 8:50. Teachers will greet students by the curb between the Toddler House and Greenhouse. All access to the Greenhouse (Red Oak) is through the playground gate and the door that faces the playground. The door on the parking lot is for emergency use only. Breakfast Club children use the outdoor stairway up to the Rainbow Club room. Please park in a designated parking space and have your child go through the playground gate to enter through the playground doors.
Dismissal
	All students must be picked up at their classroom door. There is no carline for pick up, except for students who go home after lunch at 12:25PM. It is our policy not to release a child to anyone except the parents or carpool drivers as listed on your Transportation Authorization Form on file in the office, unless we have received a release in writing from the parent. A child will be released to either parent when parents reside at separate addresses unless a written notice stating otherwise is on file in the office. We must receive a note, or in an emergency a phone call, from you in order to release your child to someone not on your list. This rule also applies to students going home with school friends as well. We will require identification from anyone picking up your child if he or she is not familiar to our staff. Please make sure all of your car pool drivers are on your Transportation Authorization Form. Dismissal for Half-Day Students Toddlers: Toddlers will be dismissed from their classroom. Half-day morning children should be picked up at 11:20 a.m. Half-day afternoon children should be picked up by 2:50 p.m. Primary: Primary students who only stay for the morning session should be picked up at 11:30 a.m. Parents who arrive after 11:40 a.m. can pick their child up in the office. Please ensure that you arrive promptly. When parents are late it worries the children. Primary students having lunch at Acorn should be picked up at 12:30 p.m. If you wish, you may join the 12:25 car line to pick up your child. Primary students who only stay for the afternoon session should be picked up at 2:45 p.m. Dismissal for Full Day Primary and Elementary Students The normal school day ends for primary students at 2:45 p.m. and for elementary students at 3:00 PM. Parents who arrive after these times should pick their children up from the Rainbow Club Program. In such cases, the parents will be charged $4.00/half hour or any part thereof for this after-school care. The school cannot be responsible for students left after their contract time unless they are enrolled in the Rainbow Club Program or are participating in one of the After-School Workshops or school sponsored activities. Picking students up from After-School Workshops Some students will choose to stay at school to attend After-School Workshops. After-School Workshops end at various times between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. Children need to be picked up promptly at the end of their workshop unless prior arrangements were made for your child to join Rainbow Club.
After School Workshops
	Acorn’s After-School Workshop Program offers all students a range of extracurricular courses and activities. Workshops meet one afternoon per week, Mondays through Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. and generally for 8 to 10 weeks. Included are programs from art, crafts, music, drama, dance, nature, science, computer and cooking. Parents are invited to share their talents and interests with the children by leading or assisting with workshops during the school year. Please call the office if you would like to participate in this program.
Extended Day
	Families who need extended care beyond the normal school day may elect to register for the Rainbow Club option available through the school. This program provides supervised care until 6:00 p.m. Breakfast Club: The Breakfast Club Program hours are from 7:30 a.m. until classes begin. Please plan to arrive within these limits. When bringing your child in the morning, please park at the Tine Road parking lot and walk your child into the Greenhouse building (playground door) or the Toddler House. In nice weather, children may be on the playground when you arrive. Be sure to check your child in with the Supervisor. Children who arrive before 8 AM may join the other in eating their breakfast at school. If you arrive after 8 AM, your child should have had breakfast at home. Rainbow Club: (Extended Day) The Rainbow Club begins at 2:45PM ends at 6:00 PM, at which time Acorn closes for the day. It is essential that all children be picked up by this time. A late fee of $1.00 per minute will be assessed should any child not be picked up by 6:00 p.m. Rainbow Club headquarters are on the 2nd floor of the Greenhouse building. To pick your child up in the afternoon, park in either lot and walk to the Greenhouse or Toddler House. Children are picked up from the playgrounds, from the Rainbow Club room (outside stairs on playground side of Greenhouse) and from Toddler House. Parents of children attending Rainbow Club will be asked to initial the Rainbow Club book, indicating the time they have taken their child from Acorn property. Please remember that we cannot allow your child to leave campus with anyone who is not on your release form unless you give your written permission. Parents who are not signed up for prepaid monthly aftercare need to contact the office 48 hours in advance to ask if the staff can accommodate their child after the school day. Please keep in mind that to maintain our student/staff ratios in the Extended Day Program, we cannot always accommodate unexpected students.
Summer Camp
	We offer one-week sessions, for Toddlers and Primary students. Each session is designed to be fun, relaxing and educational. A separate brochure with registration form is sent to parents in the spring. Camp Hours: The Primary and Toddler Camp hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Camp attendance is generally for 3 or 5 days per week. Breakfast Club (7:30-9:00 a.m.) and Rainbow Club (1:00-6:00 p.m.) are offered during our summer sessions.
Storm Closings
	If severe weather conditions make travel hazardous, school may be postponed, closed early, or canceled. Acorn makes this decision independently of the Clinton Township Public School system. Early morning closings will be announced after 6:30 a.m. Closing information can be found through the following resources: Radio Stations: WPST, 97.5 FM (Princeton), or WKXW, 101.5 FM. HCTV, Cable Station 14 The School’s message machine. The 'Announcements' section of the School's web site. (www.acornschool.org) The Acorn Emergency Call Chain procedure will be used to communicate to all parents the closing or delayed opening of school. Please be sure to have a correct emergency telephone number listed with the Acorn office. In the event of a mid-day closing, we will attempt to contact you. When in doubt, please contact the office. It is the parent’s responsibility to pick up the child in the event of a mid-day closing or to make alternate plans and to notify the office in writing.
Transportation (B6T Rebate)
	Children attending Acorn Montessori School who meet the following requirements, are eligible for transportation reimbursement from their local school districts. Reach age 5 or older before October 1, 2004 Live outside a two mile radius, but not further than 30 miles from school Are entering the kindergarten or elementary grades Application forms for reimbursement are available in the Acorn office and must be filed with the Acorn office by March.
Car Pools
	Car pools are arranged among parents. You will have an opportunity to do this at the Back-To-School Night in September. Acorn posts a map of Hunterdon County and surrounding areas in the Children’s House foyer so parents can make car pool arrangements. A transportation form is required for every child whether they are part of a car pool or drive solely with their own parent. Any change in your child's car-pool or driver must be sent in writing with your child each time there is a change. We suggest that car-pool parents devise a set of rules of behavior in the car which all must adhere to for the children's safety.