Abram Lansing Elementary School – Harmony Hill School – Van Schaick Grade School
The elementary level Student/Parent Handbook is to inform parents at our three elementary schools of the elementary practices and procedures. Our guidelines and procedures have been developed to maintain a positive learning and safe environment for students, their families, and staff members.
Thank you for helping us develop the best learning environment possible for your child! If you have any questions, please come visit the main office of your school: Abram Lansing 518-237-5044, Harmony Hill 518-233-1900, and Van Schaick at 518-237-2828.
DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Cohoes City School District, a partnership of schools, parents, and the community, is to prepare its students for success in tomorrow’s world. The vision of the Cohoes City School District is A Purpose and Plan for All!
SCHOOL SAFETY
Visitors to School
During special presentations, families may be invited in. If you are bringing items to school for your child, please call the school to arrange drop off. All visitors MUST check in at the main office before entering the school.
Social Service Dogs
Each building has a Social Service Dog that is fully trained or in training to help students and adults that may need additional support that only a loving dog can provide. Allergies or phobias are taken into consideration when scheduling visits.
Outside dogs on school property
Dogs are not allowed on playgrounds at any time. All community dogs MUST be on a leash. Dogs that misbehave may be restricted from school property when students are present.
Safety Drills
Safety drills will periodically occur throughout the year to ensure that students and staff are familiar with proper procedures in the event of a real emergency. According to New York State regulations, we will hold 8 fire drills and 4 lock down drills during the school year. As part of our “Safe School Plan”, we practice drills which will involve a complete LOCKDOWN of the total school facility. Families will be notified within one week that a lockdown drill is scheduled, however, the exact time and date will not be provided. All buildings are in a secure lockout mode at all times with exterior doors closed, locked and alarmed. Our safe buildings have one access door that is always monitored during the school day.
OTHER INFORMATION
School Closings/Delays/ or Emergency Dismissal
Snow days are stay-at-home family snow days! Remember to read, read, read! School closings and emergency dismissal notifications will be sent through Parent Square and major media sources.
Lost and Found
It is suggested that parents label coats, sweaters, books, hats, lunch boxes, and other personal items. Items such as wallets and eyeglasses, if found, will be kept in a safe location in the main office. Valuable items such as electronics and toys should remain at home to ensure their safety and prevent loss or damage.
Personal Electronic Devices (Policy 5695)
In accordance with New York State Education Law Section 2803, which prohibits the use of students’ personal internet-enabled devices, if your child has a cell phone, smart watch, wired or wireless earbuds, or other personal electronic device, it is expected to remain off and away on school property. These devices will be placed in a location as directed by the teacher: in the student’s cubby, backpack, or teacher’s storage container during school hours. School district “property” includes any property owned by the district and any locations where school-sponsored supervised events are taking place.
ATTENDANCE
Elementary Starting and Dismissal Times
Start Time—8:45 a.m. (UPK – 8:45)
Dismissal Time—3 p.m. (UPK – 2:50)
Consistent attendance is crucial for academic success. It allows students to fully engage with their lessons, participate in discussions, and build relationships with their peers and teachers. Each day in the classroom is an opportunity for your child to learn and grow, and we want to ensure they don’t miss out.
Chronic Absenteeism
If a child is absent 18 days or more during a school year, they are considered chronically absent per New York State regulations. Missing a significant number of school days can lead to gaps in learning, lower grades, and a decreased likelihood of graduation.
Student Drop Off
Due to supervision availability, please do not drop off children prior to 8:35 at all elementary schools. Please follow all mandated drop-off protocols as they pertain to your elementary school. Children are not allowed to walk unattended in the parking lots. Children must be walked to the crosswalks.
Walking Home From School
If you do not want your child to ever walk home from school, please check the appropriate box on the information sheet that is sent home at the beginning of the school year.
Tardiness
Any student arriving after the official start time, noted above, of the school day is considered “TARDY”. State law requires strict accounting of student attendance and punctuality, regardless of cause. Each child must report to the main office.
Reporting Absences
If your child is absent, please notify the main office of the reason and expected length of absence. Voice mail will record messages before or after school hours. If the parent has notified the school by phone, a written excuse is not required upon the student’s return. If the reason has not been reported to the school by phone, a written note is required immediately upon the student’s return. When a child is absent for an extended period of time due to illness, he/she may qualify for home tutoring. A doctor’s note stating the diagnosed illness and the length of confinement at home must be submitted to the principal, along with a written parental request for home tutoring.
A request for tutoring when based on a medical or psychiatric condition, must be accompanied by a statement from the child’s treating physician/prescriber/medical provider identifying the nature of the student’s condition(s); the basis for the request for home instruction; provide a diagnosis of the underlying condition(s); the estimated length of time the student may require homebound instruction; identify an anticipated treatment plan to facilitate the student’s return and expected duration of such plan; and provide any relevant medical alerts which may impact the student’s education, participation and attendance. In addition, the parent(s) shall be required to provide the District with consent to enable the school administrator/case manager to contact the doctor/prescriber/medical provider to follow up with questions, if any.
Medical/Dental Appointments
Parents are asked to make routine medical/dental appointments outside of school hours to increase learning time.
Pupils Excused During School Hours, or at Dismissal
Students are expected to attend all day, every day, and should not be dismissed for early pick-up except for physician or other appointments. A phone call or note is expected from the parent/guardian if anyone other than the parent or guardian is picking up a student, even if the person is listed on the emergency card. When a parent/guardian or other “designated adult” plans a change in the student’s daily routine, such as walking home or picking up, a note requesting this change should be sent to the child’s teacher on the day of the change of routine. The student will not be released to an adult directly from the classroom. The student will be called to the office when the adult arrives at school. The adult will be required to sign him/her out and will be asked to show identification. Students may not be consistently dismissed earlier than official dismissal times.
Family Trips
Please schedule family vacations during school breaks. In the event of an absence while school is in session, teachers are not required to provide work before the trip. It is the parents’ responsibility, working with the teacher, to make certain that any assignments and tests are completed in an agreed-upon amount of time. Avoid taking family vacations during testing weeks.
Custodial/Non-Custodial Parental Rights
Schools must remain neutral in all child custody disputes. School staff cannot take sides, provide letters of support, or provide legal advice. If your family is experiencing concerns about custody matters, we recommend seeking legal advice from an attorney. Schools must follow court decrees regarding custody matters and cannot waiver from court decisions. One parent cannot change the legal rights of the other parent. In order for schools to support parents in these matters, all court-signed custody papers must be filed in the school office. Feel free to bring original documents to the school office staff, for your convenience, they will gladly make copies of the documents to be filed in your child’s cumulative record folder.
CAFETERIA
A breakfast/lunch menu is sent home with students each month. Breakfast and lunch are free to all Cohoes students.
Food Allergies
The district is aware of the need to accommodate students with severe food allergies. Guidelines are available and plans are developed and implemented to meet the individual needs of each student.
Birthday celebrations must be food free.
COMMUNICATIONS
Student Registration/Emergency Cards
Student information forms and health cards are sent home at the beginning of the school year for each student. These cards contain vital information needed in the event of an emergency or early dismissal. Please review the preprinted portions of the card, make any necessary changes, and add new information if necessary. Please be sure that emergency contact information, particularly phone numbers, is accurate, up-to-date and that people know you have included them on your cards.
If any changes occur during the school year, please inform the office so that the school information system can be kept up to date.
Reporting to Parents
Report Cards—Students in grades K-5 receive three (3) report cards during the school year. Elementary report card dates are listed on the district calendar, scheduled during December, March, and June. The first- and second-trimester report cards are handed out during report card conferences.
Conferences—Parent/Teacher conference days are scheduled for all parents to discuss progress at the end of the first trimester. Conferences at the end of the second trimester will be based on student performance meeting New York State Learning standards, teacher or parent request. During these days, school is dismissed at 11:30 am. Your child’s teacher will contact you regarding a conference.
Parents may request additional meetings at any time during the school year by contacting the teacher.
End of year Promotion/Retention–Upon successful completion of grade-level academic and social/emotional expectations, students will be promoted to the next grade level or the following year. Parents will receive formal communication regarding promotion with the distribution of the third report card of the school year.
From time to time, an elementary student may be struggling to such a degree that staff may consider retention. Although this is a rare situation, the case should include, but not be limited to, the following process:
- As students progress from grade to grade, retention consideration should be a last resort. All intervention and support strategies should be implemented and evaluated for student progress in the areas of deficiency before considering retention for any student.
- Teachers will bring any concerns regarding a potential retention to the attention of the Principal, the Cabinet, Instructional Support Team, or grade level team using data-based evidence to express academic and/or social/emotional concerns as early as those concerns arise. This should occur prior to the second report card.
- After reviewing the data and prior teacher interventions, the team may suggest additional interventions and a timeline for follow-up to assess student progress.
- Communication with the parent/guardian to share potential retention concerns, relevant data, and the intervention strategies shall occur by March 1, with progress updates ongoing from March through May.
- Student response to interventions will be monitored internally throughout March, April, and May and discussed with the team and the parent, including any modifications to the interventions to support student progress.
- In April/May, the team will meet to determine if the student has made sufficient progress for promotion to the next grade, should attend summer school for additional support, or if the student should be retained. The parent shall be contacted and given the option to participate in the meeting.
- Following the team meeting, a letter communicating the outcome and/or the plan for the following school year will be sent to the parent by June 1.
School Physicals
School physical examinations are required when children enter pre-k or Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grade. All students new to the district must have a physical exam. Physical examinations may be performed within 12 months of the start of the school year. If you do not have a physical examination completed by your own physician, your child will be examined by the school physician during the school year. For your convenience, Cohoes City School District School Health Forms are available on our website, www.cohoes.org.
Routine Screenings
The following school-wide screenings are done by the school nurse: New students to the district, including all Kindergarteners, receive hearing screenings within six months of admission to school. Students in grades 1, 3, and 5, as well as at any other time deemed necessary, also receive hearing screenings. New students to the district, including all Kindergarteners, receive vision screenings, including, at a minimum color perception, distance acuity, and near vision within six months of admission to the school.
All students in grades 1, 3 & 5, as well as at any other time deemed necessary, receive far vision screenings.
Medications
If it is necessary for your child to receive medication during school hours, parents must follow the procedures below:
- Submit a written statement from your physician specifying diagnosis, medication (possible side effects), dosage, frequency, and the time for administering the medication.
- Submit a written request indicating that the school nurse may administer the medication as ordered
- Provide the medication in the original container that clearly indicates date, name of child and physician, name of medication, dosage, and frequency.
- Bring the medication to the health office. Do not send it to school via the student. It is against state law for any student to carry any medication without a direct physician’s order.
Excused from Physical Education Class
Students excused from PE must have a note signed by a physician. When your child is excused from physical education class he/she will not participate in recess. Contact the health office with any questions or concerns.
Disease Notification
We appreciate your assistance in controlling the spread of communicable diseases in school. We recommend keeping your child home during the time they are experiencing acute symptoms of a cold or other illnesses (such as sneezing, coughing, and fever). This protects other children and faculty/staff from exposure, aids in a faster recovery, and protects against complications. Please remember the ALL IMPORTANT 24-hour rule. Keep your child home if he/she has vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Your child needs to be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school if they have been diagnosed with strep throat or conjunctivitis (pink eye).
We ask that you notify the school if your child has been diagnosed with a strep infection, chicken pox, conjunctivitis (pink eye), COVID, or Fifth’s disease. Other uncommon diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, pinworms, and scabies should also be reported to the school. When notified, at the school nurse’s discretion, we will send home a confidential notice informing parents of the health issue in your child’s classroom.
Field Trips and Extracurricular
Field trips are a part of regular school activities, and all school rules are in effect. This includes extracurricular activities, overnight trips, and other team, club, or class activities. Violation of guidelines will be dealt with in accordance with established policy. Attendance on school-sponsored trips is not a student’s right, but a privilege.