Merriam School Procedures

Revised Dec. 16, 2003.

List of Procedures (in alphabetical order)

Absences

Before the start of school on the day their child will be absent, parents or guardians should call the Merriam Safe Arrival Hot Line:

    978-264-4700 x3754

Voice mail operates 24 hours a day to take messages. Parent volunteers work in the school office to call families of absent children who have not been noted on the Safe Arrival Hot Line in order to confirm absences and child safety. Parents/guardians should send an explanation of a student's absence when the student returns to school. Parents are urged to notify the office and their child's teacher of any expected extended absence. Return to List of Procedures.

Arrivals

Early Arrivals

Except for music lessons, scheduled classes, and/or other scheduled appointments or activities, children will be allowed in the building no sooner than 15 minutes prior to the start of the school day. Parents, guardians and others dropping off children at the start of the school day and picking them up at the end of the school day should use the parking lot. Please do not use the driveway circle due to bus traffic. A Crossing Guard is assigned to monitor the pedestrian traffic, the buses on Charter Road, and the cars leaving the parking lot.

Tardy Arrivals

Children arriving at school after the start of the school day should report to the office so that their presence may be recorded. They should be accompanied by a parent, or have a note from the parent stating the reason for the tardiness. Return to List of Procedures.

Clothing

Sneakers are to be worn for all activities taking place in the school gymnasium. Students should always be dressed appropriately for weather conditions. All outerwear and footwear should be clearly marked. The children are outside not only going to and from school, but also during the daily lunch-time recess. In winter appropriate outerwear includes:

  • Jacket or coat appropriate for the weather conditions, with easy-to-operate closures;
  • Boots, not just for snow, but also for warmth in especially cold weather;
  • Hat or hood.

Return to List of Procedures.

Conferences

Conferences between teachers, students, and parents are relied upon for the exchange of information, expectations, and concerns as well as for the solution of problems. Teachers schedule three conferences each year one parent-teacher conference in the fall and one in the spring, and one student-parent conference mid-year (Feb.). It is not appropriate to bring younger siblings to conferences. Other conferences may be initiated by teachers and parents. It is expected that conferences will include as many individuals as is appropriate and will occur as needed. Return to List of Procedures.

Dismissals

All dismissals will be made from the school office. A parent or guardian wishing to pick up a child for early dismissal must sign the child out in the Dismissal Log in the school office. The child will be paged and be dismissed from the office.

Early Dismissals

he early dismissal of students is for emergencies, hard to schedule doctor's appointments, and other serious circumstances. The last hour of the school day is an important time for the class as a whole and for each student. The end of the school day needs to be as smooth and uninterrupted as possible. Parents/guardians wishing to pick up their children early should send in a dismissal form to the child's teacher who will forward it to the office. The person picking up the child should come to the office and the child will be called for dismissal.

Safety Procedure During Dismissal

  • When buses have red flashing lights on, no other vehicles may move past them.
  • No vehicles may move in the bus loading zone when students are being led and are boarding the buses.
  • All traffic goes in one direction around the driveway circle.
  • Parents park in the school parking lot when picking up children.

Return to List of Procedures.

Emergency Information and Procedures

Emergency Information: Emergency information cards are sent home at the beginning of each school year. The card records phone numbers of parents and relatives, physicians, and dentists to be notified in an emergency. It is extremely important that this information be kept up-to-date and accurate. Please notify the school office in writing of any changes. In an emergency when parents cannot be reached, the child will be taken to Emerson Hospital via emergency vehicle. Parents will be notified as soon as possible.

Emergency Medication: Parents of known bee sting reactors and children with allergic conditions requiring emergency medication are encouraged to familiarize their children with the use of the epi pen kits and the self-injection procedure and/or other emergency procedures. Medicines will be brought on all field trips. Recess emergencies are brought to the Nurse's attention. Some Teachers and assistants are trained to give epipens in an emergency. Return to List of Procedures.

Field Trips

Classroom teacher and grade level colleagues plan field trips that are integrated into the curriculum and enhance students' regular classroom experiences. Students are supervised by adult chaperones during all scheduled out of class activities. Children must bring in a signed field trip permission form in order to participate in any field trip. Field Trip costs are usually born by the students' families. However, field trips must remain open to all students regardless of cost. If the fee is a problem for a family, there are scholarship funds available. Return to List of Procedures.

Kindergarten Screening

In order to identify children in need of special education, Massachusetts law mandates that each school committee conduct a screening program for all children who are of an age to enter Kindergarten in September of each year, to be completed no later than October 31. Parents are informed of the results of the screening, usually in November. Return to List of Procedures.

Lost and Found

A Lost and Found table for large items and clothing is located in the downstairs lobby near the multi-purpose room. Clothing and other personal articles should be labeled with the student's name. All unclaimed items are donated to charity. Return to List of Procedures.

Lunch

The lunch program is supervised by either the classroom teachers, staff assistants, or student teachers. No lunches are served on Thursdays. Hot and cold meals may be purchased by students on a daily basis. Menus are published weekly in the local papers and are sent home each month within the mail envelopes. Regular, skim and chocolate milk are also available. Free or reduced cost lunches are provided for students of families who qualify. Application forms, which are kept strictly confidential, are available in the school office. Tickets must be purchased for children to submit for meals or drinks. Tickets are available for purchase in multiples of five. Parents are advised to plan ahead since tickets are not sent home until Friday. Sometimes extra school lunches are available and the child is given a lunch and asked to send in a replacement lunch ticket the next day. Return to List of Procedures.

Medical and Health Issues

School Nurse. Only the school nurse (or an adult approved by the nurse or parent/guardian) is permitted to give medicine to a student.

Non-Prescription Medicines. Non-prescription medicines must be marked with family name and telephone number and given to the school nurse.

Prescription Medicines. All prescription medications to be dispensed at school and/or at school functions and/or field trips must be given to the school nurse in original containers.

Physical Screening Examinations. Hearing and vision tests are given yearly to every student by the nurse and notices are sent to parents in those situations where there is a need for examination by a qualified physician. These tests are basic screening exams and should not be considered substitutes for complete vision and hearing tests. Postural screening exam for the fifth and sixth grades will be done by the school nurse and the physical education teacher. The students will be notified in advance so that they can wear the appropriate clothing. Referrals will be made if discrepancies are noted.

Return to List of Procedures.

Religious Holidays, Celebration at School

(See System Policy in School Office or Central Office.) Return to List of Procedures.

Staying after school

If students are asked to stay after school for any reason, parents must be contacted first to ensure that parents know this is happening, that the students have a way of getting home, and there will be someone at home when the student does arrive. These plans are arranged by the teachers, students and parents. Teachers supervise their students who stay after until the students leave or are picked up. Return to List of Procedures.

Student Promotion

Annual promotion is a highly desirable occurrence for most children. However, the faculty and Principal have the right and responsibility to recommend and/or implement a different promotional plan for certain children. The classroom teacher does not make this promotional decision alone. The Principal, Counselor and outside personnel, if necessary, may also be involved. All possible information concerning the child is collected an analyzed and parents play a major role in the decision.

The promotional question is an issue that can be raised by the faculty and Principal or by the parents. Usually concerns about promotion are discussed by early spring. This is important to ensure ample time to study the situation and to help the child accept and understand the decision. Return to List of Procedures.

Travel Arrangements To and From School

Daily Travel

Students may walk, ride bicycles, or ride the bus to school. Parents of walkers and bike riders should send notes of consent to the school. For the students' safety, all bike riders are required to wear a safety helmet (state law for all students under age twelve). The school does not encourage students in grade K-2 to ride bicycles to school. Staff members supervise the disembarking of students from school buses in the morning and the loading of buses at the end of the school day. Inappropriate behavior on the buses is handled in accordance with bus procedures established by the school system. The parents of students remaining at school after the normal day are contacted in advance by either the student or a member of the faculty.

Special Alternative Plans for Students traveling To and From School

The Acton Public Schools recognizes its responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of its students when traveling to and from school. During an emergency travel situation the system will make an attempt to notify parents and guardians when schools will not open or there will be a delayed opening. When other situations occur, such as cancellation of a particular bus route and sending students home early, parents are expected to have made special alternative plans for their children. The school system has tried emergency telephone call chains and has found that they do not work. Therefore, it is the policy of the school system to encourage and assist parents/guardians in devising special alternative plans for their children. Parents/guardians will be notified of this policy at the beginning of each school year. Return to List of Procedures.

Return to the Merriam policies, procedures, and rules page.