School Policies & Procedures

School Policies & Procedures

School Hours

Monday – Friday 8:20am – 2:40pm for all students.

Absences

If your child is going to be absent (due to illness), call the main office (718) 829-6372. When the student is absent, the parent must provide a note explaining the absence. Parents should leave their children in school all day. Appointments should be scheduled outside school hours and on school holidays, whenever possible. If a child needs to be dismissed early, he/she should bring a note to school stating time and reason. Parents must sign the child out in the school office.

After-School Programs

Information regarding after school programs will be distributed in the fall. LEARN MORE

Arriving in the Morning/Departing in the Afternoon

Students can arrive at school starting at 7:50am for breakfast. Breakfast is served every morning 7:50am – 8:20am. Students meet in the morning in the cafeteria or schoolyard. All students are dismissed in the back of the building

Appointment with Teachers

If you wish to speak with your child’s teacher, please send a note or contact via email requesting an appointment. Your child’s teacher will arrange an appointment for you to meet.

Assessments (Citywide, School, State) 

NY State English Language Arts (ELA) Grades 3-8:

• Paper Based- Grade 6 and 7- April 11th and April 12th
• Computer Based- Grade 8- April 11th and April 12th

NY State Mathematics Grades 3-8:

• Paper Based- Grade 6 and 7- May 7th and 8th
• Computer Based- Grade 8- May 7th and 8th

Computer Based- Grade 8 Science Exam: Monday, Friday, April 8 – May 17

NY State Regents: Friday, June 14 through Wednesday, June 26

SHSAT (Specialized High School Exam): TBD

Cell Phone Policy

Change of Address and/or Phone Numbers

Please inform the school (Ms. Ayla x3036) if you change your address with proper documentation (Con Edison statement, Lease agreement etc..) and if you have a new home phone or cell phone number. We need to have current information in case of an emergency.

Communication/How are we all in the know?

We utilize a variety of methods in which to communicate with you. They include:

• The Weekly Calendar/email from the Principal
• School Twitter @MS101_Bronx
• Instagram @ms101_Bronx
• SyncGrades
• MS 101 App – available via the Apple store or Google Play Store

Emergency Cards

Parents will fill out a Home Contact Sheet. Information on this card is the school’s quickest link to parents or designated caregivers in case of a student illness, injury or emergency. We must have updated telephone numbers to reach you in the event of an emergency. Fill in 3 telephone numbers of friends, family members and neighbors in the event we are unable to contact you. Please inform the school of any changes during the year.

Illness/Injury at School

If a student is ill or injured, he/she will be sent to the nurse or main office. The nurse or office staff will contact the parents.

Information Phone Numbers:

Main Office: (718)829-6372

Kips Bay Boy & Girls Club After School Program

 Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Afterschool Program, is funded in large part by DYCD (Department of Youth and Community Development). They create an environment where students have access to stimulating activities through arts & culture, health & wellness and academic enrichment. The program strives to develop the individual interests of every student while supporting their academic success. The program schedule coincides with the DOE academic calendar and offers “Holiday Camp” programming select school holidays. On regular school days, the program begins promptly after the school day ends (2:40pm) and concludes at 5:40pm. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Wong – ryan.wong@kipsbay.org

Medication

A student may not bring medication of any kind to school. If it’s necessary for a child to receive medication in school, the parent/guardian and the student’s physician must complete and sign the Authorization to Administer Oral Medication form for special education students, or the 504 form for general education students. All oral medications must be hand delivered to school by the parent/guardian in the original container received from the pharmacist. All medications must be clearly marked in prescription bottles, indicating the name of the student, dosage of the medication and time of day that it should be administered. All inhalers must be clearly marked indicating the name of the student and the dosage. Asthmatic students should carry inhalers at all times. If a parent sees a change in the child’s condition, please report it to the physician immediately and contact the school nurse.

Lateness

School begins at 8:20 am. If your child is late, please send a note. Students who arrive after this time will report directly to the main office, where they will be marked late, and a phone call made to the parent / guardian. Excessive lateness and absences will be carefully monitored.

Lunch

Lunch periods are listed below:
Grade 6 – Period 4
Grade 7 – period 5
Grad e8 – period 6
The school lunch menu is available at http://www.schoolfoodnyc.org

Parent-Teacher Association

The PTA does a tremendous service for students by fostering and promoting a positive education program. The PTA invites parents to become actively involved in the PTA. The dates of the meeting are on the monthly calendar and website.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 9, 2023- Afternoon and Evening

March 14, 2024 - Afternoon and Evening

At MS 101 we use Teacher-Reacher.com as both the website for families to sign-up for conferences as well as access the conferences

School Passes

Students must carry the appropriate hall pass that corresponds to their destination (i.e., nurse, main office, and restroom) during class time. Students failing to report to designated areas or being excessively late may be considered truant and subject to disciplinary action.

SyncGrades

SyncGrades is the program used in the MS 101 community to keep the grades and track the progress of our students. It must be used as a grade book for daily assignments, homework, classwork, tests/quizzes, projects, and documenting anecdotal information for students and parents.

Report Cards

Marking Periods:
Marking Period 1: September 7, 2023- November 6, 2023
Marking Period 2: November 6, 2023- January 19, 2024
Marking Period 3: January 22, 2024- March 28, 2024
Marking Period 4: March 29, 2024- June 14, 2024

Report Card Distribution:
Marking Period 1: November 15, 2023
Marking Period 2: January 30, 2024
Marking Period 3: April 15, 2024
Marking Period 4: June 26, 2024

Progress Reports:
Marking Period 1: October 20, 2023
Marking Period 2: March 12, 2024

School Leadership Team

The School Leadership Team is responsible for evaluating the quality of the school’s educational program and its effect on student achievement. The Team’s focus is on developing educational strategies that lead to continuous student improvement. The School Leadership Team is composed of an equal number of parents and staff. Any parent interested in becoming a member of the School Leadership Team should contact the PTA President or Parent Coordinator.

Student Planners

All students at MS 101 will receive a Daily Planner in September. Daily homework assignments should be recorded at the beginning of each class period in the respective subject area. Parents should check the planners daily to make sure that their child is copying their homework and other assignment into their planners.

Characteristics of Middle School Students

Intellectual

• Function at a wide range of cognitive development
• Transitioning from concrete to abstract thought
• Demonstrate curiosity
• Prefer active learning
• Begin to exhibit independent, critical thought
  

Psychological/Emotional

• Exhibit a wide range of emotions caused by hormonal changes
• Exhibit moodiness, restlessness and self-consciousness
• Searching for adult identity
• Emergent risk-takers
• Exhibit sensitivity to criticism, yet can be highly self-critical
• React severely to rejection and expressions of inadequacy
• Hide true feelings and exhibit sarcasm

Physical

• Various increases in height, weight and muscular strength
• Mature at varying rates, frequently girls earlier than boys
• Underdeveloped coordination
• Varying periods of high energy and idleness
• Strong focus on appearance and fitting in
  

Social

• Look to peers for standards and models of behavior
• Rebel toward parents and challenge authority
• Respond to fads and search for independence
• Need love and affirmation from significant adults
• Develop an awareness of social problems
• Worry what their friends think about them
• Desire increased rights and responsibilities

Top 2 Concerns of Incoming Students

I’m Lost or Late!

Finding their way around the middle school will become second nature to students in the first two days of school. With assistance from staff and older students, 6th grade students will find the “lay of the land” very quickly. Teachers are very understanding at the beginning of the year if students are a minute or two late to class. We haven’t lost a student yet!

My Friends Are In the Other Class!

Middle school is an excellent time for students to meet new people. Additionally, all special area classes, lunch and after school clubs/activities are cross-teamed. There will be plenty of time for students to interact with people in the other classes.

Get To Know MS 101…

Before the School Year Begins

• Attend the orientation sessions held throughout the spring at MS 101. These sessions are designed to not only provide you with information, but also give you a chance to ask questions!
• Peruse the school website. The MS 101 website has a plethora of information on the school, the MS 101 curriculum and the activities offered throughout the school year.
• Talk to students and parents of current and former middle school students. There is nothing like getting a firsthand account of how the middle school operates. Additionally, former students can answer questions and provide you with excellent stories of their own experiences.

During the School Year

• Be involved with and communicate with the school. Parental input is a critical element in the success of middle school students. Teachers’ phone extensions and emails are readily available on the Pupil Path.
• Review our Weekly Calendar and SyncGrades on a regular basis for announcements and updates about school events.
• Attend as many events at school as you can. This will allow you to meet and interact with the staff and other parents. School events are an excellent way to get a sense for the school’s culture.

Tips for Success…General Support

• Check in with your child, often!! Ask him/her about how the day went. You may only get a one-word answer, but the fact you asked is still important to them.
• Support your child in his/her efforts to become independent.
• Encourage your child to try new things and to regard failure and mistakes as important parts of learning and growing. Assure your child that one mistake will not negatively label them in the eyes of their teachers and administration at MS 101. It is how they respond and grow that is important.
• Become knowledgeable about the needs and concerns of young adolescents in transition. It can help you feel less anxious to get advice and know you are not the first to be dealing with challenges.
• Show your child that you are in touch with the school and that you know who is who and what is going on there. Let them know that even though you may not be at school as often as you were in elementary school, you are still involved.
• Remember, the middle school staff has lots of experience dealing with students at this age. They are sensitive to their issues.
• Maintain strong family connections with your child. They may attempt to push you away on the surface, but they do want you to be there. • Be alert to signs of anxiety in your child. If you see signs, talk with the counselors at school and let them know what is going on. They can alert teachers and provide you with resources for assistance.
• Talk to your child about school and peers. Listen for comments that reflect what they are feeling and thinking. Expect your child to make mistakes and have personal struggles. Give them time to think and make decisions about how to handle their problems and deal with the consequences.
• Peer acceptance and self-esteem issues become increasingly important. Provide opportunities for your child to develop their interests and socialize with friends but be sure to monitor their choices.
• Sleep is critical for the middle school student. Make sure they are getting plenty of rest and are avoiding electronics for at least 30 minutes before trying to get to sleep.

Understanding the Adolescent

Awareness of some common adolescent characteristic will help you understand and assist your child.

Middle schoolers:

• Have high levels of physical and emotional energy, which may contrast with long periods of idleness. Let your child sleep an hour or two extras on the weekends but do wake him after that amount of time.
• Take risks, are curious and love danger and adventure, yet their feelings can be hurt easily. This is the time when they feel immortal, but they worry a lot about what their friends think about them. They are physically strong and emotionally weak. Be careful with your words. Even the biggest adolescent is still tender inside, tread softly.
• Want to be independent from their families, and at the same time, they need to be supported and protected.
• Withdraw and want a private life, and at the same time, they worry about being accepted by their peers.
• Demand privileges but avoid responsibilities. At the same time, they are developing an awareness of social problems and the welfare of others.
• Need to be taught organizational skills. Provide your child with manageable tasks that will help him develop organizational skills.
• Need encouragement to try new things and to regard failure as a necessary part of learning and growing. Make sure that tasks are challenging, but still realistic.
• Can easily become overwhelmed. Be alert to signs of anxiety in your child and seek help if necessary.
• Need you to be involved in their education. Research shows that your involvement will help your child perform better in school, earn better grades and score higher on tests.
• Need opportunities for you to teach them how to set goals and plan for the long and short term.
• Need new responsibilities. Let your child accept a paid job. He/She could babysit, mow grass or pet sit.
• Need explicit instruction, coaching and support with regard to organizing time and resources for homework.

Tips for Success …Academics

Before the School Year Begins

• If they have not already, help your child master his/her math facts. They should know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide digits 0-10 without hesitation.
• Look at your child’s writing. Make sure he/she knows the grammar basics – starting a sentence with a capital letter and ending with a period. Practice writing over the summer in easy ways (e.g., letters, journals) if they need to practice the basics.
• Have your child read over the summer in addition to their school assigned summer reading (comic books, newspapers, fun fiction – anything that keeps a book in his/her hand).

During the School Year

• Plan for about 60-80 minutes of homework a night and additional time if your child is playing an instrument for band/orchestra. Try as much as possible to establish a homework routine and stick to it.
• If your child’s grades go down, don’t panic. Work with your child and your child’s teachers on a strategy.
• Your child will have several teachers, which means different teaching styles. Help your child learn to deal with the diversity they will experience in communication, teaching strategies and feedback procedures.

Tips for Success…Emotional

Before the School Year Begins

• Help your child learn to navigate changes they can expect to see in middle school. Friend changes, strong emotions, and development of new interests are all part of the experience. Empower your child to take charge of his/her growth and not to feel like (or be) the victim when they experience challenges.
• There will be lots of different types of students in middle school. Your child has an opportunity to meet students with the same interests and make new friends. This can be helpful to point out if your child is worried about going to a bigger school.

During the School Year

• Parents can help by role playing or coaching their children through tough times (e.g., what can you say or do if one of your friends wants to sit with someone else at lunch). It is tempting to want to step in, but this ultimately will not be as useful as helping your child learn how to handle the situation on his/her own.
• Be careful to separate your own experiences in middle school from what your child is experiencing. It is important not to project our own, perhaps negative, experiences on children and add to their anxieties.
• A big parent and student concern in middle school is bullying. Bullying is taken very seriously by all MS 101 Middle School staff. The staff does their best to deal with incidents as they are made aware of them. Since school staff do not always witness or hear about everything, it is helpful to talk with your child at home about what he/she is experiencing and help problem solve with them. Let the school know what is happening to work collaboratively to come up with a plan to address the issues at hand.

Tips for Success…Social

Problem solving, Making Good Choices and Responsibility

• Social skills can greatly enhance a student’s chance of having a positive experience in middle school. As with everything in life, students will get out of middle school what they put into it.
• Students need to understand that the choices they make will directly affect their grades, opportunities to participate in sports and/or other extracurricular activities, peer interactions, and relationships.
• Students must demonstrate responsibility and the ability to make good choices across settings. The students’ ability to problem-solve and choose positive ways to interact with parents, teachers, and peers will aid in making their middle school experience successful.

Making/Choosing Friends

• Going to middle school is a great opportunity to make new friends. Some tips for making new friends are:

• Get involved in school activities

• Introduce yourself to students who sit around you in your classes

• Choose different partners during group work assignments in your classes

• Sit with different groups of people at lunch

Peer Pressure

Middle school is a time of great transition emotionally, physically, and socially. All of these changes can either be nurtured or hindered by peers. Remember, peer pressure can be either positive or negative. Examples of positive peer pressure might include encouraging friends to study by offering to study with them or motivating them to work hard at a sport. Examples of negative peer pressure might include someone encouraging students to smoke, drink alcohol, or skip school. In order to be able to handle social pressure, the following tips might be helpful:

• Find friends with similar interests, values and beliefs
• Be assertive-tell friends what you like/don’t like
• Don’t use alcohol or other drugs
• Avoid situations in which you know that you could get into trouble
• Learn to handle conflicts in a positive way
• Talk with trusted adults about situations that you do not understand and/or that make you feel uncomfortable

Tips for Success…Organization

Before the School Year Begins

• Work on organization at home – good habits at home will translate to good organization when school starts!
• Discuss and try out different organizational systems (calendar, white board, bulletin board, folders, sticky reminders, setting a schedule). Let your child choose a system he/she feels most comfortable with and practice using it with their summer activities.
• Put your child in charge of manageable tasks to help him/her develop organizational skills and a sense of responsibility.
• Time Management: Give your child the chance to plan and execute his/her own time and responsibilities.

During the School Year

• Take a long look at your child’s planner, which is provided to every student. Also check backpacks and binders regularly. Check to see how things are organized and get a sense of what your child is bringing home.
• Middle school teachers expect the students to take on more responsibility than parents, so the best thing you can do is let them do as much on their own as possible even if that means they fail sometimes.
• If they are overwhelmed and express frustration about having the wrong materials for class or forgetting to bring things home, then have them work with you or someone at school to help them plan:
  • What to take to class
  • What to take home and bring back

Ways to Make (& Keep) Friends

Act Friendly. Smile a lot and be kind and courteous to others. Compliment people, without being annoying or fake. Always keep your head held high and never cross your arms over your chest or scowl, because that makes you seem unfriendly.

Be yourself. It may sound cheesy, but the best friends are the ones who know the real you. Don’t start wearing different clothes to make friends, just be yourself and see if they’re friend potential. It really is what’s on the inside that counts.

Just say hi! Go up to someone you would like to get to know and say “Hi”, and offer a compliment or ask them a few questions like “Do you like Volleyball?” Smile, but don’t be over-the-top friendly or happy.

Join a club or activity. As simple as it might sound, joining an activity group or club can really increase your friendship circle. Who knows, you might have a talent for something you aren’t even aware of, and you may develop a new skill!

Don’t gossip. If you say mean things behind a person’s back, they WILL find out. Don’t be a gossiper, don’t spread gossip.

Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, take regular showers/baths, and wash your face. A little hygiene can make all the difference.

Stay out of “drama”. Middle school is one of the places where drama is around every corner. One little thing said over IM or text can ruin your reputation and destroy friendships. Try and be neutral if two groups of people who your friends with start fighting. Stay away from people who start drama for the fun of it; you could end up getting hurt.

Be open to new experiences and new people. Keep your options open by being open minded! Middle school is a great place to make new friends!!!

Homework Expectations

Homework encourages student self-discipline, independence, and responsibility. It also reinforces, supplements, and extends school learning, serving as a “conversation” between student and teacher, and allowing teachers to monitor the progress of students in the curriculum.

Effective homework will be meaningful and designed to challenge each student at his or her level of ability. Whenever possible, teachers will be cognizant of the impact that homework has on family life.

Homework should:

• Have a clear purpose with value
• Incorporate both review and newly learned material
• Encourage some degree of independence
• Receive teacher feedback, as such feedback has been found to influence completion rates and overall success
• Involve parents through their provision of encouragement, appropriate materials, and an environment that is conducive to learning

Students can expect an increasing amount of homework during their years at MS 101. The time involved in doing this work cannot be precisely determined since assignments vary and students will work at different rates.

Homework Hints & Tips

Here are some tips for you and some ideas to pass along to help your child make the most of their study time.

• Provide a place to study that is free of distractions such as television noise and people talking on the phone; provide soft music or white noise if it helps your children concentrate.
• Instill a positive attitude. Help your children think, “I can do this!”
• Keep all necessary supplies in one place, such as at a desk or computer station. Having pencils, paper, and calculators, all in one spot means your children won’t have to search for them, which saves time.
• Have separate folders for each course to help keep paperwork organized, so it doesn’t get lost in the bottom of the backpack.
• Establish a regularly scheduled time for doing homework. This time probably should not be immediately after school. Young people need a little time to relax.
• Have your child start with the most difficult assignment first.
• Let your child take five-minute breaks every so often.
• Keep the resources they need available. Start a personal reference library for your child and keep it current. Begin with the basics: dictionary, thesaurus, and almanac.
• Encourage your child to study with other students when appropriate.
• Recommend that your child keep track of their homework assignments in their planner so they know what homework must be done each day.
• Suggest your child hang on to past quizzes and tests to prepare for future ones. Have a manila envelope at home for students to store these important items.
• Praise your child for doing his/her homework.
• Keep in contact with your child’s teachers to be aware of the quality and quantity of work being turned in.

Clubs & Activities

All students are strongly encouraged to participate in a variety of activities after school. Look out for information about clubs on the Weekly Calendar and on flyers throughout the hallways in September!