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RAMSEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
266 E. Main St.
Ramsey, NJ 07446
(201) 785-2300
Dr. Roy R. Montesano
Superintendent Fax: (201) 934-6623
E-mail: rmontesano@ramsey.k12.nj.us Web: www.ramsey.k12.nj.us
September 2009
SCHOOL CLOSINGS, DELAYED OPENINGS, AND EARLY DISMISSALS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER or HALF DAYS
Dear Parents:
With the leaves turning color and falling from their trees, it is not too early to review the District’s inclement weather procedures. Again, this year, we will have three options for altering the school day due to the weather or other emergencies: we could close school for the day, delay our opening time for the day, or call for an early dismissal. Let me quickly comment on each of these possibilities.
Parents and students will be notified of a school closing through an automated phone system (similar to the system that Ramsey and Saddle River use at the municipal level to announce emergencies), and through announcements on the following AM radio station, WINS (1010); and television stations, Channel 12 News; FOX 5 and on the District’s answering machine (dial 201-785-2300 and press “7” after you hear the greeting), as well as through the scrolling message board at the top of our website (http://www.ramsey.k12.nj.us).
If a storm has ended, and it looks like the town and schools only need a little extra time to clear the roads and parking lots, we would call for a delayed opening of school. A summary of the delayed opening procedure follows:
1. We will use a two-hour delay in opening the schools. This means that each building will open exactly two hours later than normal. This approach will maintain the staggered opening times of the five buildings. Please, take your time, drive safely, and get your children to school when you can. We understand that your children might be a little late in arriving at the buildings.
2. Students who are bused to school should be at their bus stops exactly two hours later.
3. When a delayed opening is called, the morning sessions of the kindergarten classes and the half-day a.m. Preschool classes will be canceled. The full day Preschool classes will use a two-hour delay.
4. Delayed openings will be announced through the automated phone system, on the radio and television, on the District’s answering machine, as well as on our website. The fire whistle WILL NOT be used to signal a delayed opening. Please use the following schedule for a 2-hour delayed opening.
| School |
Class |
Delayed Arrival |
|
|
|
| High School |
Grades 9-12
. |
10:00 a.m |
| Smith School |
Grades 6-8 |
10:19 a.m. |
|
|
|
| Dater School |
Grades 4-5 |
10:35 a.m. |
|
|
|
| Hubbard School |
A.M. Preschool |
Cancelled |
|
P.M. Preschool |
12:15 p.m. |
|
Full-Day Preschool |
10:45 a.m. |
|
A.M. Kindergarten |
Cancelled |
|
P.M. Kindergarten |
12:25 p.m. |
|
Grades 1-3 |
10:45 a.m. |
|
|
|
| Tidsale School |
A.M. Preschool |
Cancelled |
|
P.M. Preschool |
12:20 p.m. |
|
Full-Day Preschool |
10:45 a.m. |
|
A.M. Kindergarten |
Cancelled |
|
P.M. Kindergarten |
12:20 p.m. |
|
Grades 1-3 |
10:50 a.m. |
On days when a storm is forecast to arrive after students are in school, we could call for an early dismissal of students. A summary of the early dismissal procedure follows:
1. Early dismissals will be announced through the automated phone system, on the radio, on the District’s answering machine, and on our website. The fire whistle WILL NOT be used to signal an early dismissal.
2. Morning sessions of Kindergarten and half-day Preschool classes will have their normal dismissal time. Afternoon Kindergarten, Readiness, and Preschool classes will be canceled for the day.
3. All other building and grades will be dismissed at the following abbreviated half-day schedule:
| High School |
12:31 p.m. |
|
(Including Moderate Cognitive) |
| Smith School |
12:35 p.m. |
| Dater School (Grades 4-5) |
12:35 p.m. |
| Hubbard School (Grades 1-3) |
12:45 p.m. |
| PM Kindergarten |
12:45 p.m. |
| Tisdale School (Grades 1-3) |
12:50 p.m. |
| PM Kindergarten |
12:50 p.m. |
Signing students out when school remains in session at your discretion:
On days when a storm arrives after school is in session, parents may use their own judgment in deciding to pick up their children earlier than normal. When this occurs, each student must be signed-out of the school in a manner complying with procedures established at the building level. Each year we have difficulty when someone appears to pick up a child, and his/her name is not included on the authorized list. Please review the list of those whom you have authorized to pick up your child and if you would like to add an additional name, please contact your building principal and augment your current list.
If we have not notified parents of one of the above listed options in the morning, the District will make every effort to remain in session for the normal school hours once students arrive at school. However, should the safety of students and staff dictate, an early dismissal is possible. Should this occur, the District would make every effort to notify parents by activating the automated telephone system, sending an E-Alert, having announcements made on the radio stations and posted on our website as mentioned on the previous page. It is important that you discuss this eventuality with your child and explain to them what they should do if the schools were to close early.
Release Procedure:
Once again, make sure that your emergency card/emergency car-pool card is up-to-date and provides some flexibility in case your primary backup person is unavailable. In the case of an early dismissal, once the automated phone system has been activated, and the radio announcements made, the buses will be summoned for students who ride the bus, and all students in grades 6-12 will be dismissed. Students in grades K-5 will only be released to adults who appear on the authorization cards. K-5 bus students will only be allowed to get on the bus if their parent/guardian has been reached. For K-5 bus students whose parent/guardian has not been reached, the District will contact someone on his/her emergency card to take him/her home.
{snow} PLEASE NOTE: ON A DAY WHEN IT IS SNOWING, OR A STORM IS FORECAST, AND YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A PHONE CALL PLEASE CHECK THE DISTRICT’S WEBSITE OR TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE.
Please thoroughly familiarize yourself with these procedures, keep this letter in a handy place, and hope that we do not have to utilize these steps on a frequent basis.
Sincerely,
Dr. Roy R. Montesano
Superintendent of Schools
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