School Handbook
Dear Jefferson Road Families,
Welcome to Jefferson Road Elementary School. I am your Principal, Stephanie Barg. I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2024-25 school year. We are going to have a fantastic year of learning, progress, and partnership.
This handbook is designed to provide you with important information about our school. It is our hope that this answers many of your questions as we begin a new year together. If you need further information, please contact our Main Office at 267-1300 and we will gladly assist you.
In addition to this handbook, the District calendar can be very helpful. This document can be found on the main District homepage, using a quick link icon in the upper right corner.
It is our goal that every student and family at Jefferson Road feel welcome and included in our school family, seen as individuals, and valued as part of our collective community of learners. Our doors are always open, and we are excited to see the success and growth for each and every student at Jefferson Road this year!
Stephanie Barg
Principal
Handbook Sections
General Information
General Information
Jefferson Road Elementary School
15 School Lane
Pittsford, NY 14534
Main Office | 267-1300 |
Attendance Line | 267-1309 |
Mrs. Barg, Principal | 267-1301 |
Ms. Bartolotta, Principal's Assistant | 267-1302 |
Ms. Onimus, Faculty Assistant | 267-1300 |
Mrs. Pichette, RN, School Nurse Teacher | 267-1340 |
Mrs. Siebert-Hochreiter, RN | 267-1340 |
Miss Candeias, School Counselor | 267-1360 |
Mrs. Cochran, Student Services Teacher | 267-3206 |
Fax Line - Main Office | 385-6426 |
Fax Line - Health Office | 218-1339 |
Transportation Department | 267-1480 |
Arrival/Dismissal Times
- Student arrival for all grade levels (K-5) begins at 8:30 A.M. (doors are locked until 8:30)
- Students are expected to be in their classroom by 8:40 A.M.
- Student dismissal for all grade levels (K-5) begins at 3:00 P.M.
Please Note: School personnel are unable to assume responsibility for the supervision of children before the start of the school day, students may not be dropped off or otherwise arrive at school prior to 8:30 A.M.
For the safety of our students both in and outside the school building, cars will not be permitted in the bus loop between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm. We have a partnership with the YMCA and also after school activities that require bus access to the loop. This is also a fire lane. It is critical that we work together as a school community to ensure our school is safe. Please park in the side visitor lot to come in the school at any time during school hours, including to drop off or pick up your children, or items needed for their school day.
Parent/Guardian Pick Ups: Students getting picked up, walking, or riding a bicycle will be dismissed at 3:00. If parents/guardians are picking up their child for dismissal (at normal dismissal time) they should come to the school between 2:50 and 2:55 pm, park in the side lot, and line up at the front door nearest the cafeteria (door #19). Please form a line in the direction of the parking lot along the bike racks, rather than into the center toward the flagpole. This will keep our pick-up line from mixing with our bus rider dismissal flow.
If you are picking up your child early (NOT at the normal dismissal time), please come in through the main entrance (door #1) and sign your child out.
Walking and Biking: Some of our students walk or ride their bicycles to and from school. There are many safety factors to be considered. If you choose to let your child walk to school, we encourage them to walk with a buddy. IF they will be walking or biking (or a combination of the two) all the time (i.e. Monday through Friday) or on a consistent schedule (i.e. every Tuesday and Thursday) a written permission slip (here) sent to your child's teacher is necessary. Students walking or biking independently must always exit out the main office door and check out with the adult in the main lobby prior to leaving.
Bus Riders: Bus riders will be dismissed from classrooms at 3:05 pm. Please review bus safety rules with your child at home. It is District Transportation policy that students in grades K-3 must be met at the bus stop or driveway by an adult and cannot be let off at the stop unsupervised.
After-School Rehearsals & Activities:
Members of our performing ensembles will rehearse from 3:05 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on the following days:
- Monday - 5th Grade Band
- Tuesday - Grade 5 Chorus
- Wednesday - Grade 4 Chorus
- Thursday - 5th Grade Orchestra
Important: If you need to change your child's regular dismissal (i.e. calling to have your child picked up by a parent/guardian at regular dismissal time, give permission to walk/bike, or be picked up early) please SEND IN A NOTE on the day of the occurrence. If you find it necessary to call the main office for such a change, please do so by 11:30 am, unless it is an emergency. Phone calls made after that time may cause disruption to the classroom and last-minute changes can lead to confusion for students and teachers at dismissal time.
Attendance and Absences
When your child will be out of school, please call the Attendance Line at 267-1309 by 9:00 A.M. on each day they are absent. Please provide the following information:
- Child's full name
- Teacher's name
- Reason for absence,
It is important for a school nurse to be informed of any contagious illness. For a list of contagious illnesses, refer to the Health Services Information section of this handbook.
Unexcused Absences:
If children are out of school on family vacations, when school is in session, it is recorded as an unexcused absence. Under our homework policy, teachers are NOT required to prepare materials in advance for students who will be on vacation. Instead, it is suggested that parents engage their child in trip-related educational activities such as keeping a journal, reading about the area visited, learning map skills, or creating a photo album that includes captions for the photos.
Building Safety and Security
Locked Doors:
For security and safety reasons, the doors to our school remain locked during normal school hours. Approved visitors will enter through the front doors (door #1) and report to the Main Office. We use a single point of entry each day, and doors are never to be propped open or handed off, under any circumstance. If you are entering the main office, please do not allow anyone (even someone you know) in behind you. Please encourage the person following you to use the bell system to gain authorized access.
Guests and Visitors:
Guests and visitors are welcome at our school. However, please prearrange classroom visits with the classroom teacher for mutual convenience. When arriving at school, you must park in the parking lot to the right of the building and enter through the Main Entrance. Please report directly to the Main Office when entering the building. All visitors are required to show photo identification and obtain a "visitor" sticker.
Cafeteria/Food Services
General Information:
Recess/Lunch for Kindergarten through Grade 5 is staggered between the hours of 10:55 A.M. and 1:20 P.M. The recess/lunch period is 45 minutes for each grade. Children have approximately 20 minutes to eat their lunch. Students in each grade level will work with Mrs. Barg to create the rules/expectations for recess and lunch during the first week of school.
Menus:
Parents of younger children may want to review the menu selections with their children before school each day from the school menu. This menu is available on the district web site, here. Help your child be aware of what choices he/she can make. Alternate Lunches are listed on the menu. These items are always available to your child instead of the daily-featured entree.
Prepaid Lunch:
Parents are encouraged to use the prepaid lunch program for their children. The use of prepaid lunch makes lunchtime a better experience for everyone as lines move more efficiently. You may print an order form from the school or district website.
Food Service Website:
You can access the PCSD Food Service Department web page by clicking on this link, here. This website contains important information about the cafeteria including how to add money to your child's account and monitor it. You can also place limits on the amount of money your child can spend and what he or she can purchase.
Tips for Packing Lunches and Snacks:
- Consider sending one-half sandwich rather than a whole sandwich for younger children.
- Consider sending fruit slices rather than a large, whole piece of fruit.
- Stress the importance of eating the most nutritious items first.
- Please discuss food-related likes and dislikes with your child. Some students will routinely discard food that is disliked.
- Keep morning snacks light and nutritious when possible; that is, small portions of fruit, crackers, cheese, raw vegetables, etc.
Birthday Celebrations at School:
Birthdays are an important milestone in the lives of children in elementary school. In line with Federal and State recommendations about the use of food in schools, as well as Pittsford's Health and Wellness policy, Jefferson Road will limit its use of food for both rewards and celebrations. Birthdays will be acknowledged in classrooms without food in a manner determined by the classroom teacher. Please refrain from outside birthday activity on school grounds (i.e. invitations, gifts, group party pick up, etc).
Communications with Jefferson Road Elementary School
District and School Websites:
To link to the PCSD and/or Jefferson Road website go to https://www.pittsfordschools.org/ and click on the menu icon to select "Schools".
Communication Office Web Page:
You can link to the PCSD Communication Office web page by going to the following link, here. There are a number of ways to stay connected to our district and our school, and the Communication Protocol is a helpful document that outlines who to get in touch with across the District depending on the nature of your concern or need.
Infinite Campus Messenger:
By providing your e-mail address on the student information form, you will automatically receive information via our Infinite Campus message system.
PTSA E-news:
Subscribe and receive a monthly electronic newsletter by going to the PTSA website at Pittsford PTSA | Home. Click on "eNEWS" in the top banner and then "eNews Sign Up". Type your information and subscribe to Jefferson Road Elementary and other information as you wish. Click "Subscribe to List" when complete.
Twitter:
Follow Jefferson Road on Twitter @PCSDJeffersonRd.
Via Your Child:
Check your child's backpack daily as most classroom/school notices come home via your child. Other important information will also be mailed directly to your home.
Emergency Preparedness
The Pittsford Central School District has adopted a uniform Emergency Management Plan. All school personnel have been trained in the execution of these plans. In case of an emergency, students have been trained to remain calm and follow specific instructions.
Parking
For the safety of all our children, CARS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE BUS LOOP DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
Parents/visitors should use the side parking lot to the right of the bus loop.
- Obey all stop signs, cross walks and traffic flow arrows.
- Speed limit is 15 miles per hour.
- Use the designated student drop-off lane located to the right of the bus loop. Students should exit the vehicle on the curbside of the lane.
- Please be mindful of walkers and bike riders and use caution when driving on school property.
Personal Belongings
What to Bring / What Not to Bring:
Students are expected to bring appropriate school materials (e.g., pen, pencil, notebook, or as outlined by the teacher) and homework to school each day and are responsible for them. During the summer, supply lists will be posted on our school website. These items may be brought to school during the scheduled classroom visitation day or on the first day of school.
Students may bring only legal and safe objects to school. Any weapon brought to school will result in disciplinary action. All objects that bear any resemblance to a weapon, or could be misconstrued as a weapon, must be cleared by the principal before being used as an instructional aide in the classroom or as part of a presentation.
Clothing should be appropriate for the weather and the school day activities. Footwear should be appropriate for school activities and should not pose a safety concern. Everything should be labeled with the student's name.
Cell Phones:
If it is necessary for a student to have a cell phone while at school, the phone must be turned off and not be visible during regular school hours. This includes electronic or smart wearables, such as smart watches. Please set the settings for school mode to allow for an uninterrupted school environment for learning during the day. Violations will be reported to the building principal and may result in the phone being expropriated until the end of the school day.
Games and Toys:
Items of significant value should not be brought to school. Electronic games/gadgets are not permitted during school hours. Any other items should have the prior approval of the teacher.
Care of Personal Property:
A student's personal property is the sole responsibility of the student. Students should not bring large sums of money or valuable/irreplaceable personal items to school. The replacement of lost, damaged or stolen property is not covered by the District's insurance and the District does not replace personal property. During recess and lunch, students are responsible for the safe- keeping of all personal belongings.
Lost and Found:
The Lost and Found is located inside the cafeteria. Any items not claimed are donated to charity during winter break and the end of the school year. Please contact the bus garage directly for items left on school buses.
Pets in the Building
No animals are permitted in the school building without the permission of the principal.
Recess/Outside Play
Please make sure your children are properly dressed for winter weather. They will need coats, mittens, hats, and snow pants. Boots and snow pants are required for kindergarten through third grade when there is snow cover on the playground.
Consider sending a plastic bag in your child's backpack in case the outside clothes and boots get wet. This will help keep other backpack contents (e.g., papers, books, folders) dry.
Check the weather forecast to determine how to dress your child for the day's weather. Children will play outdoors every day except when the temperature with the wind-chill factor is "feels like" 15 degrees or below.
Playground Rules:
- Respect and follow the directions of the adults on duty
- Play safely
- Be kind to others - Take turns, include everyone, and keep hands and feet to yourself
- Take care of the equipment. Be responsible for returning balls, jump ropes, etc.
- Stay in the assigned area
- Ask for assistance or permission when needed
School Closings
Information about the District's practice and procedures for school closings can be found at this link: School Closings (pittsfordschools.org)
Transportation - School Bus
PCSD Transportation Department
Bus Garage, 100 Mendon Center Road, 267-1480
All students who ride the school bus should carefully read and follow the bus regulations that are printed in the District Student Transportation Handbook mailed to all students' homes before school begins in the fall. Failure to abide by the district safety rules can result in a loss of bus privileges such as a temporary suspension of busing.
Child Care Transportation Requests:
Parents whose children attend daycare must fill out a daycare request for transportation. This form is available from the bus garage. All questions pertaining to bus transportation should be directed to the Transportation Department at 267-1480.
Bus Safety:
The Pittsford Central School District has a comprehensive bus safety program in place called the "Safe Rider Program". This consists of a series of three sessions for all classes in kindergarten through third grade, covering such topics as the "danger zone", safe crossing, winter behavior, spring behavior and emergency evacuation. The program is presented by bus drivers and administrators and uses discussion, demonstration and role-playing as instructional tools.
Academics
Curriculum Overview
The following link will take you to the Elementary Curriculum page on the Pittsford Central School District website - Elementary Curriculum (pittsfordschools.org).
Homework Requests
If your child has been legally absent for more than one day, please email your child's teacher and ask them to provide the missed assignments. The homework will be in the Main Office for you to pick up at or before 4:00 p.m. Under our homework policy, teachers are NOT required to prepare materials in advance for students who will be on vacation. Instead, it is suggested that parents engage their child in trip-related educational activities such as keeping a journal, reading about the area visited, learning map skills, or creating a photo album that includes captions for the photos.
Interruption Free Policy
The staff and students at Jefferson Road School value uninterrupted instructional time. The interruption-free school day policy and procedures promote the safety of our students and staff and the security of the building.
Deliveries:
Students will be allowed to go to the office to pick up any items left for them (e.g., glasses, lunches, lunch money) at an appropriate time determined by the teacher. Please support your child in developing independence around preparing items for school each day before leaving home, to minimize the volume of drop offs in the main office and maximize instructional time.
Student Drop-Off:
Parents/guardians are asked to go to the main office when dropping off students in the morning and during the school day. Morning routines are important to getting off to a good start in classrooms. In order to minimize interruptions to this essential part of the day, parents/guardians may not accompany students to classrooms in the morning.
Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct on School Property
The District Code of Conduct provides information about common expectations for conduct on school property. District Code of Conduct
The Dignity Act for All Students Act
New York State's Dignity for All Students Act (also known as DASA) seeks to provide the State's public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
For more information, please visit the District's Dignity Act web page by going to the following link: Dignity for All Students Act (pittsfordschools.org).
As part of the Dignity Act, we have created the following "Plain Language" Code of Conduct for our Elementary Students:
School Expectations
- Students will be kind and respectful to all people in all settings.
- Students will respect all property.
- Students will make safe choices.
- Students will try their best in all things.
Unacceptable School Behavior
Bullying/Harassment
Actions that occur repeatedly that make a person feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or disrespected.
Could be....
Physical- (ie. hitting, kicking, punching spitting, pushing)
Verbal- (ie. teasing, name calling, making threats)
Emotional- (ie. spreading rumors, leaving someone out)
Cyberbullying
Technology used inappropriately in order to hurt others.
Could be....
Email, text messages, social media, digital photographs, or videos
Consequences
If bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment occurs, the school will work with you to make a plan to correct the problem. Parents will be notified. Consequences may occur in school and/or at home.
Post Incident Reflection
Students will be required to answer the following questions.
- What happened?
- Who/what was harmed?
- What needs to be done to make things right?
- Was a school rule broken? Which one?
- How can I or others behave differently in the future?
Student Behavior
Our efforts to model, encourage, and teach respect and dignity for all is at the heart of our educational program. These simple values are part of our culture and are critical to every aspect of our daily instruction.
The District Code of Conduct provides additional information about student behavior. You can view the entire District Code of Conduct by going to https:/jwww.pittsfordschools.org/Page/956.
The Dignity Act for All Students Act (a.k.a. "The Dignity Act"):
New York State's Dignity for All Students Act (a.k.a. <The Dignity Act=) seeks to provide the State9s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
For more information, please visit the District's Dignity Act web page by going to the following link: /Page/571
As part of the Dignity Act, we have created the following "Plain Language" Code of Conduct for our Elementary Students:
School Expectations
- Students will be kind and respectful to all people in all settings.
- Students will respect all property.
- Students will make safe choices.
- Students will try their best in all things.
Unacceptable School Behavior
Bullying/Harassment
Actions that occur repeatedly that make a person feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or disrespected.
Could be....__
Physical- (i.e. hitting, kicking, punching spitting, pushing)
Verbal- (i.e. teasing, name calling, making threats)
Emotional- (i.e. spreading rumors, leaving someone out)
Cyberbullying
Technology used inappropriately in order to hurt others.
Could be.....
Email
Text messages
Social Media
Digital photographs
Videos
Consequences
If bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment occurs, the school will work with you to make a plan to correct the problem. Parents will be notified. Consequences may occur in school and/or at home.
Post Incident Reflection
Students will reflect on the following questions.
- What happened?
- Who/what was harmed?
- What needs to be done to make things right?
- Was a school rule broken? Which one?
- How can I or others behave differently in the future?
Student Dress Code
Please refer to our District Code of Conduct for detailed information about our Dress Code (Code of Conduct-25639 (pittsfordschools.org)
Health
Health Services Information
For prescription and/or non-prescription medication delivery by the school nurses, please follow these procedures:
The medication policy requires written orders from your child's physician and signed consent by a parent, for any and all medications to be administered at school. This includes nonprescription meds, such as Motrin and cough drops. The medication must be delivered by an adult, in its original unopened container. A Permission to Administer Medication Form can be found on the district website, or the physician can provide their own. This form must be completed by the child's physician and must be renewed annually. Please provide an extra labeled prescription bottle to the school nurses for your child to be used on field trips, when medication administration will be necessary.
Physical Exam Reports are required by NYS for students entering K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11 and all new students to the district. The exam must be dated no more than one year prior to the first day of school (i.e. Children entering in Fall 2024 must have a physical dated after September 2, 2023).
If your child is home sick from school, please notify the Attendance Line at 267-1309. The district requires children stay home after a diagnosis of strep throat and conjunctivitis until they have been treated on antibiotics for 24 hours. Additionally, if your child has a fever of 100.0 F or greater, he or she will also be required to stay home for 24 hours.
Please alert the school nurses of any contagious illness your child may develop (i.e. strep throat, pediculosis, conjunctivitis) so we may alert the classroom. Specific student names will never be shared.
Please contact our Health Office at 267-1340 or jre_nurse@pittsford.monroe.edu you have any questions or concerns.
Snacks:
Classroom teachers and parent volunteers will provide guidelines for snacks for school functions and classroom parties. If cider is served, it must be pasteurized.
Food should not be shared with other students due to allergies or religious, ethnic, or parental preference.
All classroom celebrations that involve food must follow District procedures for safety, and permission must be given by the parent/guardian to ensure safety with food allergies.
Family Involvement
Parent/Guardian Participation
Parent/Guardian Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteer opportunities exist both during and after school for everyone. Our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. Volunteers provide our students with opportunities for enriching experiences that only parent volunteers can provide. Individual volunteers have the opportunity to contribute in many ways such as becoming a room representative, working on fund-raising activities, or after-school clubs. To learn more about volunteer opportunities through our PTSA, please go to the following link: Pittsford PTSA | Volunteer Opportunities.
PTSA Membership:
PTSA strongly encourages families to become members at the beginning of each school year. The small family membership fee helps to enhance the education of all students throughout the school district. Click on the following link to join our PTSA: https://www.pittsfordptsa.net/membership
Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled at certain times during the school year. However, parents are encouraged to communicate directly with their child's teacher at any time.