Family Handbook
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SAR ACADEMY 2021-22 FAMILY HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL .. 5 SAR ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT. .. 6 WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS? . 7 HOW DOES ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL WORK? . .. 7 PARKING . 10 ATTENDANCE . 10 HEALTH CARE AND FIRST AID . 13 WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE? . .. 16 HOW IS SAR PRIORITIZING SAFETY AND SECURITY? . 17 HEY, ALEXA, WHAT’S FOR LUNCH AT SAR? . 19 HOW DOES MY STUDENT UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY@SAR? . 21 ACADEMIC . .. 23 BEYOND THE CLASSROOM . 27 3 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK EXTRACURRICULAR AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS . 38 HOW DO I STAY CONNECTED WITH SAR? . 39 HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? . 41 WHO DO I CONTACT FOR . ? . 42 A WHO’S WHO AT SAR ACADEMY . 43 4 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Parents, Last school year was certainly like no other! We continue responsibility) in our) אחריות to be proud of the level of community, as we balance the priority of health and safety with the hopeful reality that we can resume certain elements of a typical school year . I am pleased to share with you our updated SAR Academy Handbook . While we were forced over the last two school years to find a new, creative approach to how we do things, from that experience we have learned a great deal . We have some exciting updates to share and important reminders enclosed in this practical guide to SAR Academy’s policies and programming . We have also highlighted some of the easy but meaningful ways you can connect to the SAR community . We look forward to a year of health and growth for our students and for the greater SAR community as we partner in the education of our children . We hope to reinforce the mission of our school, our commitment to nurturing the individual strengths of each child, and our connection to Medinat Yisrael and Am Yisrael . We look forward to seeing your children’s smiling faces in September and welcoming you to our building in person! For both our new as well as our returning SAR families, if I can be of any assistance to you in any matter, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email at [email protected] or by phone at 718-548-1717, ext. 1207 . We are also excited to introduce this year a text messaging hotline where you can easily and conveniently communicate with us via text; we are here to help answer your questions and are just a message away . Try it out - 914-222-0040 - send us a message and please stay in touch! Sincerely, Rabbi Binyamin Krauss Principal, SAR Academy 5 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK SAR ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT SAR Academy is a Modern Orthodox co-educational day school dedicated to the belief that every child possesses a divine spark, has unique worth as an individual and should be encouraged to achieve according to his or her ability. Our warm environment promotes confidence, creativity and enthusiasm for learning . In our approach to academics, we nurture students to develop intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills and a lifelong love of both Torah and Secular studies . We have created a program committed to excellence in every aspect of our educational goals: To foster a community of b’nai and b’not torah who demonstrate sensitivity for their peers, respect for their teachers and environment, loyalty to their country, and an appreciation of the differences in others. To advance and develop each student towards a value and mastery of Hebrew language, Judaic Studies, and General Studies . To raise our students’ connection to Hashem (Ahavat Hashem and Yir’at Shamayim), commitment to Talmud Torah, observance of Mitzvot and connection to Medinat Yisrael . To educate by nurturing and challenging each student to reach his or her individual potential . 6 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS? Please note we are introducing a new schedule for the coming school year with adjusted arrival and dismissal times . Please see below for more information . SCHOOL ARRIVAL TIME 8:00 AM: School begins for ALL grades (2N-Gr . 8); arrivals can begin at 7:55 AM - please see below for more information . SCHOOL DISMISSAL TIMES MONDAY-THURSDAY SCHEDULE 3:00 PM: ELC and Grades 1-5 (ELC ONLY pickups can begin at 2:45 PM from the ELC) 4:00 PM: Grade 6-8* *We encourage all students to participate in Maariv during the winter months . FRIDAY SCHEDULE 1:00 PM (ELC ONLY pickups can begin at 12:45 PM from the ELC) HOW DOES ARRIVAL / DISMISSAL WORK? EARLY LEARNING CENTER ELC ARRIVAL PROCEDURES By Bus: Children traveling to school by bus will either be dropped off at the main SAR Academy entrance, where they will be greeted at the bus by ELC staff and escorted to the ELC OR in the ELC lot, where they will be greeted at the bus by the ELC staff. By Car: ELC students traveling to school by car (or on foot) must be dropped off at the ELC building. Children can be dropped off beginning at 7:55 AM until 8:10 AM. ELC teachers will greet students in the ELC driveway and bring them from their cars into their classrooms . During that process, we request that you please remain in your car for everyone’s safety . Grades 1-8 students may be dropped off at the ELCONLY IF an ELC child is also being dropped off. 7 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK ELC DISMISSAL PROCEDURES- 3:00 PM (1:00 PM on Fridays). By Bus: Students will be escorted to their buses by ELC staff. Our staff will help students board the buses and ensure they are seated safely . By Car: Please pick up in the ELC parking lot . Dismissals begin by 2:45 PM Monday through Thursday and 12:45 PM on Fridays for ELC ONLY pick-ups (those who are only picking up students in 2N-K) . Students will be brought to their cars by ELC staff. Please stay in your car to make this process safe and efficient for everyone. Grade 1-8 students may be picked up at the ELC ONLY IF you are also picking up an ELC child . Main Building (Grades 1-8) GRADES 1-8 ARRIVAL PROCEDURES By Bus: Buses arrive at the school in front of the main building between 7:55 AM and 8:05 AM . By Car: ● Please drop off students in Grades 1-8 at the Main Entrance and proceed out the driveway. Please do not exit your car . ● Our security guards have been instructed not to allow children to get out of cars onto the street . ● Please be reminded that ELC students should be dropped off in the ELC parking lot and not in the Main Building . By Foot: Children walking to school should enter the property at 254th Street and Independence Avenue and use the walkway to the building . This is a matter of both safety and respect for our neighbors driving in the area . 8 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK GRADES 1-8 DISMISSAL PROCEDURES By Bus: Students transported home via bus will line up outside the school in their designated bus line . By Car: All cars should use the carpool lane in the upper parking lot off of 254th St. Please do not arrive before 2:45 PM on Monday-Thursday or 12:50 PM on Friday . A staff member will supervise children as they enter cars. ● Please do not leave your car while in the carpool lane . Students will not be permitted to access cars waiting on 254th St . All cars should use the carpool lane . Unless a child is registered for an after-school activity, he/she must leave school at the regular dismissal time . There is no supervision after dismissal time . ELC students must be picked up at the ELC parking lot and not from the main building . BUS SERVICE OPTIONS Riverdale District Busing: Students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 who live in Riverdale (but more than ½ mile from school) are eligible for free yellow bus service from the NYC Department of Education . Westchester District Busing: New Rochelle and Scarsdale districts provide free busing to and from school; families must file transportation requests annually to be eligible for roundtrip transportation . Please check with your district for appropriate filing dates. Private Bus Transportation: Private busing is provided for a fee to and from Manhattan, White Plains, New Rochelle (Nursery and Grades 6-8), Riverdale (Nursery) and Scarsdale (Nursery and Grades 6-8) . MetroCards: Students in Kindergarten - Gr . 8 who live in NYC but are not eligible for free yellow bus service (i .e ., Manhattan residents) may be eligible for a MetroCard . If you have any questions regarding your child’s transportation to or from school, including MetroCards, please contact our Director of Transportation, Seth Botnick at ext. 1233 or at [email protected] . 9 2021 SAR ACADEMY FAMILY HANDBOOK PARKING Where Do I Park? Following our parking policies will better ensure the safety of our students and buses . Please note that the upper lot (including the main driveway), lower lot and ELC lot are designated for faculty and staff parking only. Please know parking is available at the MetroNorth station for a fee . Feel free to see the security guard at the main entrance of the building if any special parking accommodations are required upon your visit to the school . Please Respect Our Neighbors! As SAR strives to be a good member of the community in which we are situated, please be mindful of parking regulations on the streets surrounding the school .