Parent Handbook

Please be aware that permanent school records (report cards, cumulative folders, etc.) must reflect the name recorded on your child’s birth certificate. If your child’s name has been legally changed, please bring documented legal proof of the change to the office as soon as possible.

If custody of a child is limited by court order, a copy of that order must be on file at the school. Without a signed court order, either parent may request to see a teacher, be contacted in the event of an emergency, view school records on their child, or sign their child out of school. It is imperative to provide the school with a copy of the court order at the beginning of each school year so that accurate and up-to-date records can be maintained. Please provide any court documents to the school within 45 days of obtaining the court order. For additional information see Chancellor’s Regulation CR A750

In accordance with Chancellor’s Regulation (CR) A414, the Queens Explorers Safety Committee has adopted a school-wide safety plan and building level emergency response plans. These plans are intended to define how the school building will respond to acts of violence, emergency situations, and other disasters.

The safety plan provides a framework for identifying and implementing appropriate strategies for creating and maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all of the students. A copy of the plan is available for examination in the main office, upon updating and completion each year.

Fire Drills and soft lockdowns are performed throughout the school year in accordance with regulations outlined by the NYC DOE.  Improper behavior during fire drills such as talking, yelling, running or failure to follow instructions of the teachers or other adults present will result in disciplinary actions. Behavior of this kind endangers lives and will not be tolerated.  

When it becomes necessary to close school due to inclement weather or a school emergency, announcements will be made after 6:00 a.m. on the local radio and television stations. NYC information line (311) may also be consulted as well as the DOE website.

In the case of an emergency early dismissal, the school will use the information on the blue contact card only to notify parents/guardians/caregivers. No new verbal pickup arrangements will be accepted; your child will only be released to individuals listed on their blue information card on file in the main office.

Arrival

3K ,  Pre- Kindergarten

Arrive at 8:00am at the 91st street entrance (Cafeteria Entrance).  Teachers and Par-Professionals will accept the students and proceed to the classrooms. 

Students will be seated in cafeteria at assigned tables and picked up by teachers by 8:00 AM

Kindergarten, First Grade 

Arrive at 8:00am at the 90th street entrance (Gymnatorium).

Parents line up by Gymnatorium Door.

Students be seated in the Gymnatorium at designated spots and picked up by teachers by 8:00 AM

Second-Fifth Grade

Arrive at 8:00am at the main entrance on 101st Avenue.The students will be allowed to enter the building at 8:00am and proceed to their classrooms. They will be greeted at their classrooms by their teachers.

All doors will close at 8:05am. If you arrive to school with your child, for arrival,  after  8:05am, please bring him/her through the main entrance and your child will be escorted to their classroom. When the student is late to school, the parent must sign him/her in at the main desk. 

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS PROCEDURE

Dismissal will take place between 2:10 pm each day

3K, Pre-K

On  91st Street Entrance, students are seated at designated tables.

 Kindergarten, First Grade  

Students are dismissed through the Gymnatorium Entrance on 90th Street. Parents enter through gate on 90th Street by Gymnatorium door.

2nd- 5th Grade

Large School Yard 

On inclement weather

Grade 2 : Dismissed in the Gymnatorium with Kindergarten and 1st Grade.

3rd -5th Grade: Exit through Main Entrance

Only adults who are listed on the Pick Up Form and have a valid ID will be allowed to pick up your child.  Therefore, it is extremely important to update the list with new phone numbers and contacts as they arise.  This can be done by calling  the main office.

Students who are late being picked up will be held in the school cafeteria and will be supervised by school staff.  The student will be signed in as a “late pick up.”  The school staff will then contact all adults on the emergency card, starting with the parents.

If you anticipate being late or have a change in pick up procedures for your child, please call the main office so that we can let the teacher and student know before dismissal begins.  When picking up your child late, the parent/guardian MUST show ID at the security desk.

If you are chronically late picking up your child, there will be a requested meeting with the Principal to determine how to remedy the issue.

Due to security reasons, students will NOT be allowed back into school after dismissal. Please impress upon your child to make sure he/she has all of the necessary materials prior to leaving for the day. If your child participates in an after school program at Queens Explorers, he/she will not be allowed to leave the school premises in between the time of school dismissal and the start of the after school program.

On half days when there is early dismissal ALL students must leave the premises at dismissal time and all after school programs are cancelled unless otherwise informed.  Dismissal is at 11:00am (doors open at 10:50am) on half days.

Use great caution when driving or walking along/across 101st Avenue, as well as 90th street and 91st street.

Families and students should always walk on sidewalks and cross at crosswalks and corners

Families and students are expected to be orderly and positive representatives of our school in the community

 Families and students must be mindful of motorists from both directions while crossing the street

 For parents who drive their children to and /or from school, vehicles must not stop in roadway to pick up or drop off students

 Vehicles must not double park or stand in bus drop off/pick up locations

Vehicles must not stand/park in fire hydrant locations

Parking regulations near the school must be respected and obeyed

Report Cards will be available to parents at the parents NYC School accounts. Please check the calendar when the report cards for K-5 will be released. If a parent cannot attend the Parent/Teacher Conference date, he/she must work out an alternate conference date with the teacher.  

• The three marking period grades are NOT cumulative; they represent the grade earned for the marking period only. 

The parent teacher conferences are in November and March.  Please check the calendar for the dates. The teachers will be scheduling conference times with each family.  All conferences will be virtual this year. Please come on time to your conference.  If you are late, you will be asked to reschedule with the teacher.

The promotional policy is aligned with the NYC DOE Promotion Policy. The Queens Explorers Promotion Policy is built on the belief that regular attendance increases student achievement and self-esteem and develops positive attitudes toward school and learning.

Students are placed by the building Principal, with additional input from grade-level specialists and current grade-level teaching staff, including music, ESL and Guidance.  Placement is made on an individual basis, with primary concern given to placing the child in an academic environment that will provide the greatest potential for academic advancement. Every attempt is made to balance classes including number of male and female students, learning styles, range of abilities, special needs and student relationships. We have your child’s best interest in mind when we make these decisions.

Students are responsible for maintaining good condition of all textbooks, literature books, library books, learning toolkits, etc. All parents/guardians will be held accountable for payment of any items that are lost or returned in poor condition (written-in, torn, or dirty). No report cards will be released if there are outstanding books or fees.

Queens Explorers highly values academic integrity and does not permit any form of dishonesty or deception that unfairly, improperly, or illegally adds to the enhancement of a grade of an individual assignment or a course grade. Teachers and Administration are aware, however, that new forms of cheating, plagiarism and other forms of dishonesty may arise, and therefore we expect every student to interpret the requirement of academic honesty and integrity broadly and in good faith. If there is any doubt as to whether a particular act constitutes academic dishonesty, ask a teacher before your child proceeds with it. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

Cheating on Exams:

1. Copying from others

2. Having or using notes, formulas, or other information in a programmable calculator or other electronic device without explicit teacher review and permission

3. Having or using a communication device such as a cell phone, pager, PDA, or electronic translator to send or obtain unauthorized information

4. Taking an exam for another student, or permitting someone to take a test for you

5. Asking another to give you improper assistance, including offering money or other benefits

6. Asking for or accepting money or any other benefit in return for giving another improper assistance

7. Providing or receiving information about all or part of an exam, including answers (e.g., telling someone in a subsequent period what was on your exam, or being told this information)

8. Having or using a “cheat sheet” (a piece of paper with answers, formulas, information, or notes of any kind) that is not specifically authorized by the teacher

9. Altering a graded exam and resubmitting it for a better grade

10. Working together on a take home exam, unless specifically authorized by the teacher Gaining or providing unauthorized access to examination materials

11. Misrepresenting your academic accomplishments, such as by tampering with computer records

12. Deceiving a teacher by making up a false excuse or reason in efforts to gain special consideration on an exam or extension for an exam, paper, or project

13. Failing to promptly stop work on an exam when the time allocated has elapsed

14. Forging a signature

15. Hoarding or damaging library materials Note: Simply having possession of any prohibited or unauthorized information or device during an exam                                                                        (whether or not it is actually used) is an act of academic dishonesty and will be dealt with as such.

Plagiarism in Papers and Assignments:

• Giving or getting improper assistance on an assignment meant to be individual work (when in doubt, ask)

• Including any materials not based on your own research and  writing on assignments turned in for credit.

This includes:

1. Using the services of a commercial term paper company

2. Using the services of another student

3. Copying part or all of another person’s paper and submitting it as your own for an assignment

                 • Acting as a provider of paper(s) for any student(s)

                 • Submitting substantial portions of the same academic work for credit in more than one course without consulting both teachers (self-plagiarism). 

                 • Failing to use quotation marks where appropriate • Failing to properly acknowledge paraphrased materials via textual attribution, footnotes, endnotes,

                    and/or a bibliography

                 • Making up data for an experiment (falsifying data)

                 • Citing nonexistent sources (articles, books, etc.)

Consequences for Academic Dishonesty

                 • The first offense will be reported to the Principal, and will result in a grade of 0% on the assignment and a notation will be cited on the student’s record.                                                          A parent conference will be held. If the student is in a leadership role, he/she will be removed

                 • The second offense will be reported to the Principal.  Parent conference will be scheduled. Loss of participation in clubs and after school activities.                                                                    An automatic grade of 0% on the assignment, and a notation will be cited on the student’s record.

                 • Should a third offense occur, it would result in a scheduled parent conference and one year’s probation from all clubs, activities, and trips.                                                                                    The student will receive a failing grade for that subject.

                • All assignments must be resubmitted; if not submitted, the student will receive a zero on the assignment

Note: Attempted academic dishonesty, even if unsuccessful, will be treated as academic dishonesty.

In event it is established that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty, a committee of staff members and administration has adopted the following steps as a policy.

Queens Explorers Elementary School will have regular virtual trips or walking trips. Parents will fund trips if fees are required.  A permission slip must be completed for each field trip.  The forms will be sent home prior to the scheduled trip.  This form must be completed and returned to school before a student may participate in the trip.   If the school administrators assess that your child’s conduct does not reflect the rules and regulations of Queens Explorers, you may be asked to accompany your child for your child to attend. In this case, the teacher will contact the parent if their child will not be attending the trip.

There will be opportunities for participation in extracurricular clubs and activities at Queens Explorers Elementary School. Students must exhibit behavior that exemplifies the culture of Queens Explorers Elementary School and remain in compliance with the uniform policy and school Code of Conduct. Students may be excluded from participation in any of these activities based on non-compliance or teacher recommendation for removal. The school reserves the right to remove a student at any time throughout the year based on infractions. When an extra-curricular activity begins, a permission slip will be sent home with your son/daughter.  We ask that you return the slip within two days in order for your son/daughter to retain his/her seat in the program.  If the slip is not returned, another student may be asked to fill that seat.

Queens Explorers Elementary School is a uniform school and all students are required to adhere to the school’s strict uniform policy every day, including first and last days of school, birthdays, and on field trips*. Clothing worn to school should be clean and neat.  Undershirts are not to be worn as uniform tops and students may not wear denim pants as part of their uniform. If students choose to wear a sweater or sweater-vest, it must be solid navy blue.  If there is writing, pictures, graphics, etc. on the sweatshirt or sweater, your child will be asked to remove it during school hours.  Our school colors and style scheme are light blue tops and solid navy blue bottoms for all grades 3K thru 5. All sweat pants or gym pants must align with the color scheme. If tights are worn they should be solid Blue. Appropriate footwear is to be worn at all times. Sneakers are to be worn each day for recess.

*Picture Day is the only day on which students will be allowed to attend school without standard school uniform.  

Dress Code Enforcement

Parents of any child reporting to school without suitable uniform attire will be immediately contacted and asked to bring the appropriate uniform to the school. 

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support

Core Values:

 Trust, Respect, Responsibility

Behavioral Expectations:  

Expectations for every context in the school are laid out in a matrix throughout the school. Those contexts are: Hallways, Gymatorium, Assemblies, Playground, Cafeteria, Classroom.

Tokens:  

Explorer Tokens will be given to students who exhibit behavior that aligns with our core values.  Every token that is given is added to a class “pot”.  Each class has a goal for the number of tokens they want to reach and an experiential reward when they reach that goal.  This goal is posted on each class’s door.  Tokens can be given by any adult staff member.

Wristbands:  

The school principal will give students Core Value wristbands when any student is seen exhibiting those core values.  

This summary document of the Queens Explorers Elementary School’s Code of Conduct is developed in an effort to:

Clearly define the expectations for acceptable conduct on school property.

 Identify the possible consequences of unacceptable conduct

Ensure that discipline, when necessary, is administered promptly and fairly.

Rights and Responsibilities

The Code of Conduct defines the rights and responsibilities of students as members of the school community. These rights and responsibilities relate to academic, school citizenship, behavioral and extra-curricular activities.

Essential Partners

The following adults are identified as essential to support students as they develop as students and good citizens: parents, teachers, student service personnel, Assistant Principal, Principal, Superintendent, and the Board of Education. Their roles and responsibilities are explained in detail in the complete document.

Core Values guide our Behavior Management System:     

 1. Respect               

2. Responsibility       

3. Trust  

Students attending Queens Explorers must maintain decorum of behavior that is polite, respectful, and compliant to school regulations. Courtesy toward classmates, teachers, staff, and visitors is imperative in order to achieve an effective educational environment.  Individual classroom behavior management systems will focus on reinforcing the positive or desired Core Values. Classroom expectations will be set on the first day of school each year.

Disciplinary Penalties, Procedures, and Referrals

Disciplinary action, when necessary, will be firm, fair, and consistent so as to be the most effective in changing student behavior. As a general rule, discipline will be progressive and will fall into categories of infractions labeled Minor, Major, and Extreme. Examples of each category are as follows:

a. Minor. Classroom disruptions, aggressive actions, disregard of school regulations, damage of private and school property through misconduct, or dress code violations.

b. Major. Assault of any person (student, staff, teacher, or visitors), willful destruction of personal and/or school property, use of abusive or profane language, and occurrence of cheating or theft. It is unacceptable to bring real or toy guns, knives, weapons, and the like to school.

c. Extreme. Excess violence, threatening behavior, illegal or dangerous activities.

In determining the appropriate disciplinary action, school personnel authorized to impose penalties will consider the student’s age, the nature of the offense and the circumstances which led to it, the student’s prior disciplinary record, the effectiveness of other forms of discipline, information from parents, teachers, and/or others, as appropriate, and all other extenuating circumstances.  The school staff will use the ladder of intervention in handling individual cases. 

Penalties for various infractions may include, but are not limited to:

Oral and written warnings to the student

Written notification to parent/guardian

Parent Conference • Classroom Detention

Suspension from recess

Suspension from social/extra-curricular activities

Suspension of other privileges

In-school suspension

Removal from classroom

Short or long term suspension from school

Corporal punishment of any student by any district employee is forbidden.  

For full information see CR A 420 Reasonable physical force may be used to:

Protect oneself, or any person from physical injury.

Protect the property of the school or others

.Restrain or remove a student whose behavior interferes with safety and orderly operation of the school (if the student has refused to refrain from further disruptive acts).

Disciplinary actions will be based on guidelines from the DOE Code of Discipline. The Code of Discipline can  be viewed online. 

Discipline of Students with Disabilities:

The code of conduct affords students with disabilities certain procedural protections whenever school authorities intend to impose discipline upon them. These procedures are consistent with the safeguards required by applicable laws and regulations. However, all students are required to comply with the discipline codes and procedures from the DOE and Queens Explorers.

BULLYING OF ANY KIND IS ILLEGAL AND NOT TOLERATED.

QUEENS EXPLORERS IS A BULLY FREE ZONE!

It is the sincere desire of the staff to provide a safe, caring environment conducive to learning. Behavior that does not facilitate this will not be tolerated. It is our goal to allow our students to learn in an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect. If a child has a problem with another student and cannot resolve it on his/her own, he/she can come to any adult in the building, inform his/her teacher or any adult immediately. Physical violence of any sort is not acceptable as a means of resolving conflicts. Any child engaging in such actions will be subject to disciplinary actions as outlined in the NYC DOE Discipline Code.

Reporting Violations

All students are expected to promptly report violations of the code to the appropriate adult. All staff that is authorized to impose disciplinary sanctions is expected to do so in a prompt, fair, and lawful matter. The building principal or his/her designee must notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency of those code violations that constitute a crime and substantially affect the order or security of a school as soon as is practical.

Sexual Harassment

It is the policy of the school district to maintain a learning- and working-environment that is free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is deemed unacceptable conduct in the educational and employment environment and will not be tolerated. Students and school employees should report the alleged violations of this policy to the Principal immediately.