About Us » Policies and Procedures

Policies and Procedures

Attendance

P.S. 153 is responsible for teaching your child. But we can’t do our job if your child is absent. Learning builds day by day. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Research shows that children who are in school most of the time do better on state tests. Studies also show that kids who are absent more often score lower on state tests.
When a child is late for school, his or her learning can also suffer. A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the year. Children can copy notes or make up work, but they can never get back what’s important: the discussions, the questions, a teacher’s explanations, and active learning. Your child’s success in school depends on having a solid educational foundation, which comes through regular school attendance.

Here’s How Parents Can Improve Their Child’s School Attendance:

  • Talk with your child about the importance of attending school regularly.
  • Avoid scheduling family trips or doctor appointments during school hours.
  • Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough sleep and exercise.
  • Don’t accept excuses for why your child “must” miss or be late for school.
  • Support school rules regarding absences and lateness.
  • Show your child why education is important. Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.
  • Lead by example. If children see parents taking off from work for no real reason, they may expect to be able to do the same thing. 

The law requires students to be in school for the entire school day. A child may be dismissed to his or her parent only for emergency or medical reasons. Parents are not allowed to sign out a student after trips or classroom celebrations.

Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success!

Parking: Our school and the City forbid double-parking during drop-off and pick-up times. The 104th Precinct enforce traffic and parking rules. The police may write a ticket if you are double-parked. Most importantly, double-parking creates a very dangerous situation for our students. Please do not double-park as doing so can put your children's safety in danger.

Arrival and Dismissal for GRADES 1 THROUGH 6 (School begins for all grades at 8:15 AM)

 ARRIVAL:

 
Bus children will be escorted off busses either to their classroom or the cafeteria for breakfast.  
 
Attendance and punctuality play an important role in your child’s academic progress. Children are late if they arrive at school after 8:15 AM. By 8:15 teachers are already taking their students.  Children who are late must be brought to the main entrance on 60th Lane near 60th  The parent coordinator/school staff member will issue a late pass and then the child will be sent to her/his class.  Please note chronic lateness or absence will impact academics and students opportunity to participate in after school enrichment programs.
 
SCHOOL DOOR 11 WILL OPEN TO STUDENTS IN GRADES K-3 AT 7:50 AM FOR BREAKFAST AND 8:10 AM FOR GRADES 1-3 FOR ARRIVAL (KINDERGARTEN WILL ARRIVE AT DOOR 10 FOR ARRIVAL). SCHOOL DOOR 1 (MAIN ENTRANCE) WILL BE OPEN FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 4, 5 AND 6 AT 7:55 AM FOR BREAKFAST AND 8:10 AM FOR ARRIVAL.
 
DISMISSAL:
(Please Note: We will not have access to the schoolyard so it is extremely important that you pick up your children on time to prevent congestion and unsafe conditions. All students in Grades 1-6 will be dismissed at 2:35 PM every day.)
 
Students in grade 1 will be dismissed through Door 11 at 2:35 PM Monday-Friday.  
 
Students in grade 2 will be dismissed through Door 9 at 2:35 PM Monday-Friday.  
 
Students in grades 3 well as SC 004, SC 005, SC 006 will be dismissed through Door 2 at 2:35 PM Monday- Friday from Door 2 located on 60th Lane nearest to 60th
 
Students in grade 4 will be dismissed through Door 5  at 2:35 PM Monday- Friday.
 
Students in grades 5 and 6 will be dismissed through Door 1 (Main Entrance) at 2:35 PM Monday- Friday.
 
For safety reasons, please be patient wait for your child’s teacher to acknowledge you and then your child will walk to you. Please do not walk up the stairs or crowd the doorway.  This is for your child’s safety.  
As previously mentioned, it is important that students are picked up on time to avoid congestion and/or create unsafe conditions. Students who have not been picked up on time will be escorted to the old wing cafeteria and parents will need to pick up from that location. However, parents will have to wait until all classes are dismissed before they can enter the building. This may take time so please plan accordingly. In addition, please note that parent/guard/designee will need to sign the student out before the student is released.  
 
If your child will be walking home unescorted, please make sure to complete and return the permission slip which is included for students in grades 4 through 6. Please complete permission slip and submit to teacher on first day if you want your child to walk home.
 
BREAKFAST:
PLEASE REFER TO LAST PARAGRAPH UNDER ARRIVAL REGARDING TIMES. Children arriving to school late may also receive breakfast to eat, however, those students will receive a bagged breakfast and will be escorted to their classroom.  (CHILDREN ARRIVING LATE ON A SCHOOL BUS WILL BE SERVED WHENEVER THEIR BUS ARRIVES).
 
LUNCH:
Hot Lunch is available for all students. Lunch Times are as follows:
           4th Period (11:11 -12:01) Kindergarten, First, Second Grades and classes 005, 006, 007
           5th Period (12:04-12:54) Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grades

*For safety reasons, Dogs, Bicycles, and Scooters are not allowed on the sidewalk during arrival

 

For our grading policy and other policies and procedures please refer to our 2023-2024 Family Handbook below.