Principal's Message	History of Birchwood	Mission Statement	Values and Beliefs	Birchwood's Homework Philosophy	Steering Committee Shared Decision Making Team
Birchwood Daily Schedules & Conference Days	Cafeteria and School Lunch Program		Lunch Menu	Transportation (Walking, Riding, and School Bus)	Parents and Other School Visitors
Weather Related Closings and Late Starts	Absences from School		Outdoor Recess	Lost and Found	Call-back Procedures
After School Child Care Kid's Time	Health Policies and School Nurse		School District Calendar	Preschool Programs	Birchwood's Home Page

Mission Statement

The Birchwood Elementary School Faculty, staff, parents, caregivers, and community believe that our mission is to cooperatively encourage all children to develop their potential to the fullest, thereby enabling students to become lifelong learners. Together we will inspire all students to believe in their own capabilities. Students will be provided with opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and form attitudes which will stimulate them to be responsible, productive, and active paticipants in their local and global communities.

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Values and Beliefs

1. The emotional, physical and intellectual well-being of everyone is important.

2. Children will benefit academically and non-academically from all our decisions.

3. There will be open communication among all groups (children, parents, staff, P.T.O., and community).

4. Enthusiasm for learning will be encouraged as an ongoing priority.

5. All decisions should be informed decisions with continuing input and evaluation.

6. School policies and procedures should be clearly defined, adhered to, and supported by all groups.

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Steering Committee (Shared Decision Making Team)

School-Based Planning and Shared Decision Making is a process designed to involve individuals responsible for implementing decisions in actually making those decisions. The focus of this process in Niskayuna is on education. Its purpose is to improve schools in a framework of trust and collaboration among staff, parents, students, and the community. The main goal is to improve student achievement. A secondary goal is to strengthen community support for the schools by fostering greater public involvement in and "ownership" of the schools.

School-Based Planning and Shared Decision Making is a partnership. Administrators, teachers and other staff members, students, parents, and community members are involved in significant decisions about their schools. The process provides for collaboration in decision making and for shared responsibility and authority for school improvement at the school level. At the same time, the sharing of authority and responsibility in this plan shall not diminish the ability of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools, or Building Principal to fulfill their legal responsibilities for the supervision and management of the school district or building.

Birchwood's Steering Committee is comprised of the following members which serve two year terms and are elected by the various constituencies they represent:

· 3 classroom teachers representing K-1, 2-3, and 4-5

· 1 special subject teacher (library, music, special education, etc.)

· 2 support staff members representing the aides, custodial, and cafeteria staff

· 2 parents

· 1 community member and 1 alternate

The Steering Committee meets on a monthly basis with the meetings open to anyone interested in attending. Interested attendees may request time to speak at the meeting by making this request known to the building team chair(s) under the rules established by the district committee.

To facilitate the work of the Steering Committee, a set of beliefs and values were developed. These guide the committee as they make decisions about improving Birchwood's programs and services, dealing with problems, and realizing our and the district's mission.

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Parents/Visitors
All parents and visitors to Birchwood are required to sign in at the main office during regular school hours. If your visit involves any of the following, you'll be asked to wear a name tag obtained in the office:

- classroom or program observation
- tutors and library volunteers
- bake sales, banking, ticket sales, etc.
- talks or lectures to students

If your visit is restricted to the main or nurse's office, parent-teacher conference or a class/school production, name tags will not be necessary. If a student will be leaving the building before the 2:10 p.m. dismissal or is being picked up at the end of the day, please adhere to the following procedure:

a. A note should be sent to the child's teacher indicating when the child will be picked up and by whom.
b. The parent (or designee) must report to the main office and sign the child out of school.
c. If the person picking up the child is a parent designee, they must have a note from the parent authorizing permission for the designee to assume this responsibility.
d. If the child is returning to school before the end of the day, the parent or designee must sign the student in at the main office.
e. Any student arriving at school after 8:00 must check in at the main office.

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Weather Related Closings and Late Starts
Severe weather conditions may necessitate the closing of school or cause a delay in the opening. If the weather is questionable, please tune in to the local television and radio stations prior to sending your child to the bus stop. At least twice an hour these stations will announce school closings and delays. The closings are quite straight forward, simply no school for the day. More complicated is the delayed opening which is often used when bad weather has been experienced but the conditions are predicted to improve considerably through the day.

The district has two alternatives: one hour or two hour delays. This means school would open at 8:55 for the one hour delay and at 9:55 for the two hour delay. With the two hour delay, morning kindergarten is canceled. A rule of thumb would be that if your child normally is picked up at 7:30 it would be 8:30 for the one hour delay, and 9:30 for the two hour delay. These are approximate times as road conditions may dictate slower pick-ups. Please stay tuned to the radio even after delays are announced for if the weather conditions deteriorate school could eventually be canceled.

School closings are posted on the Niskayuna School District web site and are broadcast over the following stations at regular intervals:

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Absence from School
According to New York State law, the following are some examples of legally excused absences:

sickness or death in family
impassable roads
religious observance
doctor appointments

A note from home is requested on the first day back to school after an absence. In cases of illness, please specify the nature of the illness. A note is also requested whenever a child is to be excused for early appointments.

Absences because of shopping, oversleeping, vacations and other trips with parents while school is in session are considered illegal. Family vacations should be planned to correspond with school recesses whenever possible.  

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Outdoor Recess
The recess program is a vital part of the school day. Children need a daily activity program to help them develop physically and socially while affording them a important energy release. Whenever possible, recess is held outside. There will be many days during the winter months that are cold, but not unbearable if children are dressed appropriately (i.e. boots, mittens, hats, etc.) Parents' cooperation is requested to facilitate the outdoor recess program.

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Lost and Found
Please mark all clothing that is likely to be removed at school (coats, hats mittens, sweaters, etc.) Lunch boxes, purses, etc. should include school identification as well as your child's name.

Articles found in and around the school grounds are placed in bins in the school lobby. Articles left on buses can be retrieved from the driver or at the Bus Garage, 1301 Hillside Avenue.

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Call-back Procedures
In the continued effort to enhance Birchwood's child safety program, a voluntary "call-back" procedure is currently in use. The purpose of this program is to inform parents in the event their child does not arrive at school. Parents are asked to telephone the office of the school nurse (Mrs. DeLuke - 785-3546) prior to 8:00 a.m. to report an absence or late arrival. If a student is not in school, the parents will be notified. In the event that further action is warranted, the principal will speak to the parent directly.

Call-back Guidelines
a. Between 3:00 p.m. (the day before) and 8:00 a.m. (the morning of the absence) call the answering machine in the nurse's office (785-3546).
b. Identify yourself by name and relationship to child.
c. Give date and time of call.
d. Give child's name, grade and teacher's name. State whether the child will be absent and why, or whether the child will be late to school and the expected time of his/her arrival.

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BIRCHWOOD

NISKAYUNA ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM LINKS

BIRCHWOOD'S CLASSROOMS

BIRCHWOOD SPECIAL
SUBJECTS

BIRCHWOOD'S CLASSROOM SUPPORT PROGRAMS

BIRCHWOOD PARENT/TEACHER ORGANIZATION

BIRCHWOOD'S SPECIAL EVENTS & PROGRAMS

NISKAYUNA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR

NISKAYUNA SCHOOL DISTRICT HOME PAGE