Yonkers Montessori Academy

Name _________________________ Locker # _______

FAMILY/ STUDENT HANDBOOK 

Dr. Eileen E. Rivera 

Principal 

Judy Cholewa

Assistant Principal 

Elementary  PK - 3

Don DeMatteo

Assistant Principal

High School Grades 11-12

Antonia Falcone

Assistant Principal

Center for Learning 4-12

Wendolyn Landrau

Assistant Principal

High School Grades 9-10

Rafael Machuca

Assistant Principal

Grades 4 - 8

160 WOODLAWN AVE

YONKERS, NEW YORK 10704

914-376-8540

914-376-8552 (Fax)

This handbook belongs to:

NAME__________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________

CITY/TOWN_______________________________________ZIP CODE ____________

PHONE_________________________________________________________________

STUDENT I.D./POS NUMBER__________________________________________________

YONKERS MONTESSORI ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

To Inspire Tomorrow’s Heroes, and Leaders.

VISION STATEMENT

Yonkers Montessori Academy is a collaborative learning community, rooted in Montessori philosophy. We adhere to the 5 Pillars of a Montessori Education – LEARNING, HARD WORK, PEACE, RESPECT AND COMMUNITY. 

Our desire is for all stakeholders to be knowledgeable, responsible, and passionate contributors to our learning community, the local community, and the global community.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBLITIES 

The Yonkers Public Schools affirms the rights of students where these rights do not interfere with the rights of others, the general social order, federal and state laws and regulation, and Board of Education policies. All students have the right to be treated equally and fairly so that no student shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, economic status, sex, disability, sexual orientation or national origin in the areas of freedom of expression, personal rights, procedural due process and access to school programs. In addition, to promote a safe, healthy, orderly, and civil school environment all district students have the right to:

 1. Enjoy the basic rights of citizenship recognized and protected by law for persons of their age and maturity.

 2. Take part in all district activities on an equal basis regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender,   sexual orientation or disability.

 3. Present their version of the relevant events to school personnel authorized to impose a disciplinary penalty in connection with the imposition of the penalty.

 4. Access school rules and, when necessary, receive an explanation of those rules from school personnel.

 5. The discipline of students receiving special education services must follow the guidelines of the Board of Education, which meet the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

All district students have the responsibility to:

 1. Contribute to maintaining a safe and orderly school environment that is conducive to learning and to show respect to other persons and to property.

 2. Be familiar with and abide by all district policies, rules and regulations dealing with student conduct.

 3. Attend school every day unless they are legally excused and arrive to class, on time, prepared to learn.

 4. Work to the best of their ability in all academic and extracurricular pursuits and strive toward their highest level of achievement possible.

 5. Respond to direction given by teachers, administrators and other school personnel in a respectful, positive manner.

 6. Work to develop strategies to control their anger.

 7. Ask questions when they do not understand.

 8. Seek help in solving problems that might lead to disciplinary action.

 9. Dress appropriately for school and school functions and abide by the district’s Dress Code.

 10. Accept responsibility for their actions.

 11. Conduct themselves as representatives of the district when participating in or attending school-sponsored extracurricular events and hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, demeanor, and sportsmanship.

Parents/Guardian/Person in Parental Relationship

All Families are expected to:

 1. Recognize that the education of their children is a joint responsibility of the parents and the school community

 2. Send their children to school, on time, ready to participate and learn

 3. Ensure absences are excused for legal reasons only

 4. Insist their children be dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code

 5. Help their children understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly environment

 6. Know and support school rules and help their children understand them

 7. Build good relationships with teachers, other parents and their children’s friends

 8. Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure

 9. Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance

 10. Provide a place for study and ensure homework assignments are completed

 11. Provide their current address and telephone number to the school and alternate/emergency contacts

 12. Attend conferences when requested

 13. Comply with all communication processes: e.g. notes, forms, consents, emergency cards, connect-ed phone calls

Code of Conduct 

The Board of Education expects all students to conduct themselves in an appropriate and civil manner, with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, district personnel and other members of the school community, and for the care of school facilities and equipment.  The best discipline is self-imposed, and students must learn to assume and accept responsibility for their own behavior, as well as the consequences of their misbehavior. District personnel who interact with students are expected to use disciplinary action only when necessary and to place emphasis on the student’s ability to grow in self-discipline.  The board recognizes the need to make its expectations for student conduct while on school property or engaged in a school function specific and clear. The rules of conduct that follow are intended to do that and focus on safety and respect for the rights and property of others. Students who will not accept responsibility for their own behavior and who violate these school rules will be required to accept the penalties for their conduct.

Levels of Inappropriate Student Behavior

All students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. The best discipline is self-discipline. Students must learn to assume responsibility for their own behavior. Schools should require cooperative intervention of the parent/guardian for all inappropriate behavior.

LEVEL 1: Involves minor inappropriate behavior that can be addressed by teachers and any other school personnel. LEVEL 2: Involves inappropriate behavior which interferes with orderly educational process and can be addressed by teachers and other school personnel. 

LEVEL 3: involves inappropriate behaviors that seriously impact school and classroom safety and order which may result in a suspension. Level 3 infractions require intervention of the parent/guardian, teacher and school administration. 

LEVEL 4: Involves behavior that presents an imminent threat of serious harm to the school community, or seriously affects the safety of others in the school and/or the educational process. Level 4 infractions require intervention of the parent/guardian, teacher and school administration, resulting in an automatic suspension and may warrant police interventions. 

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

It is expected that all YMA students behave in an appropriate and respectful manner.  Students must refrain from bullying, fighting, using foul/abusive language, and vandalism.  Please refer to the district Code of Conduct for specific prohibited behavior.  Students assigned Out of School Suspensions (OSS) are not allowed to attend school-sponsored activities (Sports, Dances, Trips, etc.) during the time they are suspended.  This time period commences at the time the student is suspended and ends at the beginning of the school day following the day (s) of suspension.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED:

Balloons or flowers                                                         

Water guns/pistols                                                      Radios,  

            Cards, dice or gaming                                                Electronics games 

            Candy or gum                                                             Aerosol spray cans 

Skateboards                                                              Glass bottles

Open drink containers or screw top bottles               Tobacco use                           

Selling candy/other items for personal profit              Spitting                                    

Hats or head coverings in classes, study halls, cafeterias or auditorium

* Cell phones should not be seen or heard. Cell phones should be turned off during the school day. Non-compliance will result in confiscation by school personnel and returned to a parent or guardian only. 

DRESS CODE / UNIFORM POLICY

1. To reinforce the continuation of a safe and secure environment for your child and in response to the Superintendent’s “Quality Schools Initiative” the Yonkers Board of Education has adopted a “Uniform Policy” for all district schools.  Uniform participation is mandatory.

2. Our PK-8 school uniform policy is as follows: all students will wear white tops (sweater, shirts or blouses) or the school polo and navy bottoms (skirts or pants). 

3. Our high school students will wear the school shirt or any collared dress shirt with sleeves and dark blue or black dressy bottoms (skirts or pants). 

4.  Hats, du-rags, scarves, bandanas, hoods or other headgear are not permitted to be worn on school property.

5. Any attire with sexual messages, drugs/alcohol related pictures or words, and/or pro-violence statements are not permitted. Students will be asked to change shirts into one of our school shirts for the day.

6. If you wear garments which are too tight, too short, to sheer, or any other garments deemed inappropriate by an administrator due to, too much exposed skin or underwear, you will be required to change and parents will be called. Too tight means exactly what it states! If the outlines of a person’s undergarments are visible, then the outfit is too tight. An outfit that is too short means more then six inches above the bottom of the knee. To sheer means that a person can see what is underneath the clothing.    

7. No Tube tops, Tank tops, Low Cut/Sleeveless blouses, and Halter tops are to be worn to school.  

8. For safety reasons; it is required that students wear closed-toe sneakers, shoes or boots. Flip-flops, slippers or footwear meant for the pool, beach or sports (i.e. cleats), are not to be worn.

SCHOOL PROPERTY

Proper use of school property is expected at all times.  Persons responsible for property damage and/or vandalism will be held financially responsible and appropriate legal action will be taken.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

There are a variety of programs and activities available to students including collaboration with community based organizations after school.  These activities vary from year to year.  Parent/guardians will be notified about the specifics of each program in advance.  Written consent from parent/guardian is needed for students in grades PK-8.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Classes will begin promptly at 7:35 a.m. Students will be allowed in the building at approximately 7:30 a.m. any student entering the building after 7:45 a.m. will be required to get a late pass in the grade level office.  All students are expected to leave the building in an orderly fashion no later than 2:15 p.m. through designated exits. 

Student Arrival Time:  7:35 a.m.

Preprimary (Pk/K) students will enter through the south wing main door entrance.  Students will be monitored by school personnel throughout arrival. 

Primary (1-3) students will enter through the south wing main doors and walk under the oversight of school personnel to their designated classrooms.

Intermediate (4-6) students will enter through the north wing main entrance and line up outside their classroom doors.

Elementary bus children will enter through the south wing main doors and the bus monitor will escort the students to their designated classrooms.  

Middle School students will enter through stairwell 3 from the athletic field and report to their classrooms.

High School students will enter through stairwell 4 from the athletic field and report to their classrooms.

Student Dismissal Time:  2:00 - 2:15 p.m.

Preprimary (Pk/K) students will exit through their designated doors in the South Wing at 2:00 p.m.  

Primary (1-3) students will exit through their designated south wing doors at 2:05 p.m.

Intermediate (4-6) students will exit through the main doors in the north wing.

7^th/8^th grade students will dismiss through stairwell 3 towards the field.

9^th-12^th grade students will dismiss through 2. 

Elementary (Pk-3) bus students will report to their designated bus locations where their monitor will pick them up and escort them to their buses.

Intermediate (4-6) bus students will exit through the rear of the building and be escorted to their buses.

ATTENDANCE

The State of New York requires every student to attend school every day unless he/she has a legal excuse. Parent/guardian should notify the school if their child is going to be absent for more than one day.  In the event of absence(s), it becomes the student’s responsibility to bring in a written excuse for the day(s) of absence.  The note must explain why the student was absent and must list the dates of the absence(s).  This note signed by the parent/guardian must be brought to school on the day the student returns to school.  After you have been absent for five days, a doctor’s note must also be brought to school.  Absence notes are to be given to your first period teacher.

**Please print the student’s full name and class when writing absence notes.

**Please refer to the District’s Code of Conduct booklet for the district’s attendance policy for middle/high schools. 

EARLY DISMISSAL

Students are never to leave the school building before 2:15 p.m. without a parent/guardian.  The only persons that will be allowed to pick up a student are those that are listed on the emergency cards. Please make sure that you have a valid photo I.D. with you when entering the building.  Persons/guardians who arrive after 1:40 p.m. to pick up their child/ren will be asked to wait for them at their designated dismissal locations.  If you know your child will be leaving early, please send a note in with your child no later than the morning of the day for early dismissal.  Please arrive prior to 1:30 p.m.

EMERGENCY CARDS

All students are asked to have a parent/guardian fill out 3 emergency cards in September.  These cards are kept on file at the school.  The school must be notified if any information on the card changes.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Please come to the school office to notify the school office in writing of any change of address with proof of change, so that school records may be accurately maintained.

NURSE

If a student is ill, he/she may report to the Nurse’s office only with a teacher or administrator’s permission and a pass.  

LEAVING THE CLASSROOM

Students in grades 7-12, who need to leave the classroom, must use the passport system found at the back of this agenda book.  The time, destination and teacher’s signature must appear on the passport.  There are no passes issued during Period 1 and Period 8 (unless an emergency) or the first and last five minutes of every instructional period. Students will be expected to have a pass when moving in the halls while classes are in session.  The passes are to be visible at all times and must be presented to any staff member upon request.  Elementary students are required to have a buddy when leaving the classroom.  

Auditorium Expectations

No food or drink may be brought into the auditorium. Performers or speakers at assembly programs, whether fellow students or adults, deserve respect, quiet attention and applause, when appropriate. Students who refuse to abide by those rules will be asked to leave the auditorium. Students will enter and leave the auditorium in a quiet, orderly manner without pushing, shoving or running. Students will return to class promptly and quietly. 

CAFETERIA RULES AND LUNCHROOM PROCEDURES

Student lunch periods are Periods 4, 5, 6 and 7.  Students are not permitted to leave the cafeteria with food.

Preprimary and Primary students will eat in Café C from 10:25 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in half hour shifts (4 in total) Intermediate (4-6) students will eat from 11:00-11:30 p.m.  Middle School will eat from 10:04-11:53 a.m.  High School students will eat from 11:55-12:40 p.m. or from 12:43-1:18p.m.

In order for all students to enjoy the full use and convenience of the cafeteria, these rules must be followed:

1. Teachers and aides assigned to Cafeteria Duty have total authority.  Students at the tables and in the snack lines are to obey and follow teacher and food service directions at all times.
2. Food will be consumed during the lunch periods only.  All students must eat lunch during their assigned lunch period in the cafeteria.  Students should only be in the cafeteria during their assigned lunch period.
3. All students must go directly to their assigned table and be seated upon entering the cafeteria.  Running is not allowed in the cafeteria.
4. Students may bring lunch from home if desired.  Desserts, snacks and milk may be purchased in the cafeteria.
5. Students must obtain written permission to leave the cafeteria by supervising administrator or designee.
6. Students must clean their area and dispose of all garbage in the containers provided.  Seats and tables must be cleaned before the teacher in charge dismisses students.   
7. Courtesy and respect must be demonstrated to all staff and fellow students at all times.

Failure to Comply Will Result in Disciplinary Action; e.g., after-school detention, out of school suspension.

LUNCH APPLICATIONS

All students must have a parent/guardian fill out a lunch application in September.  The free and reduced priced data compiled from lunch applications is the economic indicator of our district.  These figures directly impact grants and funding to our schools.

LOCKERS

Lockers will be assigned within the first weeks of school to students in grades 4-12. Students are to have a master combination lock for their assigned locker.  Students are encouraged not to share lockers. 

LOST AND FOUND

North Wing Lost and Found is located in the custodian’s office.  Articles found by students should be brought to the cafeteria.  South Wing Lost and Found is located outside the SW gymnasium.  Students are expected to search for lost items during their lunch periods.  They are not to search for lost items during instructional time.

DRILLS

In the case of a Fire Drill or a need to evacuate the building, all students must follow the assigned teacher(s) out of the school building quietly and rapidly. Order must be maintained and enforced at all times.  Students will remain outside the school building until otherwise instructed.

PTSA

The Yonkers Montessori Academy PTSA is a vital part of your child’s school life.  A dedicated group of parent/guardians volunteer their services on a daily basis.  The PTSA encourages parents/guardians and school staff to join us and become actively involved in the daily activities of the PTSA.  

YMA PTSA president’s email:  YMAPTSA@yahoo.com

TEXTBOOKS and LIBRARY BOOKS

Textbooks and library books are school property provided for your use by the Yonkers Board of Education. You will be fined for damage beyond normal wear.  Lost books must be paid for before a replacement will be issued.  Final report cards, school records, and diplomas will be withheld until all school property is returned or paid for.

VISITORS

During the school day, only students and staff of The Yonkers Montessori Academy are permitted in the building.  All visitors must sign in at the front desk and then report to the Main Office.  Students and staff should notify the main office or school safety at once, if they observe any unauthorized individuals in the school building. Unauthorized visitors will be charged with trespassing. You must present valid photo identification upon entering the school.  No student visitors are allowed.

Yonkers Montessori Academy

Elementary Schedule

Teacher Sign-In                                         7:30          

Student Arrival                                         7:35 

7:35-8:05

8:05-8:35

8:40-9:10

9:15-9:45

9:50-10:20

LUNCH PERIOD SW-1                              10:25-11:25

LUNCH PERIOD SW-2                              11:30-12:30

LUNCH PERIOD NW                                11:00-12:00

12:05-12:35

12:40-1:10

1:15-1:45

End of Day preparation                               1:50-2:00

Dismissal                                                 2:00 - 2:15

Yonkers Montessori Academy

Secondary Schedule

Teacher Sign-in                       7:30    

Period 1                7:35 – 8:22 a.m.

Period 2                8:25 – 9:12 a.m.

Period 3                 9:15 – 10:02 a.m.

Period 4               10:06 – 10:53 a.m.

Period 5               10:57 – 11:44 a.m.

Period 6               11:48 – 12:35 p.m.

Period 7               12:38 – 1:25 p.m.

Period 8               1:28 – 2:15 p.m.

Dismissal                                          2:15

OUR FIVE MONTESSORI PILLARS

I LEARNING 

We are committed to   ACADEMICS

                                                                    SERVICE

                                                                                RELATIONSHIPS

                                                                                      COMMUNITY BUILDING          

II HARD WORK

We respect and appreciate the effort and willingness to meet the different challenges.  We value hard work!

III RESPECT

We strive to act with good manners so that our respect for other’s feelings and property are obvious to all.

IV COMMUNITY

We strive to shape, foster, and nurture relationships that build community.

V PEACE

We strive to be a community that works toward achieving personal and global peace.

 Good Habits Are Necessary

(Pillars I – V)

Good habits are the behaviors you repeat every day that enable you to accomplish your goals.

To help you accomplish your goals and have a great school year, turn these behaviors into daily habits:

• Be in school every day
• Complete ALL homework assignments
• Be actively engaged in your classes
• Get in the habit of asking and answering questions, taking notes, and most importantly, participating in discussions. Ask for help when you need it.

Be Organized (Pillar I & II)

Here are some tips to help you stay organized:

• Use a planner every day.

Use it to record assignments, tests, quizzes, appointments, activities, and anything else you need to remember.

• Have a system for organizing your papers.

Whether you use folders, binders, or notebooks, the important thing is that you have specific place for all your papers (notes, handouts, homework, returned tests).

• Eliminate clutter.

Put away or throw out anything you don’t need.

• Develop a routine

Have a morning that gets your day off to a good start, and a nighttime routine that includes getting everything ready for the next day.

• Create a study plan each day

At the end of each school day, look at how much homework you have, consider the time you have available, and make a plan.

• Keep your backpack and locker clean and neat.

You’ll be able to quickly find what you need, and you’ll be less likely to lose things.

Make new friends.

Go out of your way to talk to the students in your classes, those you see at lunch, and classmates involved in the same activities as you are.  Smile, be friendly, and seek out students who share your interests and values.

 Take responsibility for your choices (Pillars III – V)[GL1]