Student Life - Student Management

Daily Schedule

The official school day for all students except Pre-School is from 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Attendance is taken at 8:10 a.m.; classes and prayers begin promptly at 8:15. We use these 5 minutes to make school-wide announcements and gather and share other important information regarding the students’ day. It is essential that all children be present for their opening activities. Pre-School attendance is recorded at 9 a.m.

Student Drop-Off Procedures

The goal for establishing student drop-off procedures is twofold: the first goal is to ensure a safe environment for all students, Pre-School through grade eight. The second goal is to preserve optimum conditions for instructional time for students and teachers. We ask that you abide by the following guideline: All children must enter through the main entrance. These doors will open at 7:00 a.m. Students who arrive before 8:00 a.m. will be expected to check in with the adult supervising early arrivers in Eden Hall. Pre—School students will be escorted to their classroom at 8 am. Middle School students may either remain in Eden Hall or gather in the Middle School hallway.

Student Pick-up Procedures

School dismisses at 3:30 p.m. for the Kindergarten, Lower and Middle Schools. Bus students will be dismissed to their buses from Boymel Synagogue. Children who are picked up will be dismissed from Eden Hall.

There are three possible pick-up times for Pre-School children:

• 11:15 am for children who only attend morning classes. Pick up by an adult must be in the child’s classroom.
• 12:15 pm for children who attend morning classes and stay for lunch and play. Cars line up in the Pre-School parking lot; children are escorted to their cars.
• 3:15 pm for children who stay all day and attend EDP. Cars line up in the Pre-School parking lot; children are escorted to their cars.

Pre-School children staying for After-School Daycare are escorted to that program.

School buses line up in the Sturbridge Parking Lot; children are escorted to the buses through the main entrance.

Parents picking up their child(ren) may:

• Park their car and enter the building through the main entrance.
• Remain in their car and line up in the Pre-School parking lot; children are escorted to their cars through the Eden Hall exit.

The children’s safety is of paramount concern to each of us. It is simply unsafe to allow students, even Middle Schoolers, to wait outside the building or to wander around inside unsupervised. Therefore, students will not be released to any person other than parents or an authorized designee. If the person coming to pick up the child has not already been listed on designated Emergency Medical form, the identity of the new person must be confirmed by written authorization. Telephone authorization will be accepted only in the case of an emergency.

Food Service

The goal of the Rockwern Academy kitchen is to provide our students with a healthy school nutrition environment. This goal combines the commitment of food service personnel, parent volunteers, teachers and students. The kitchen aims to expose our students to a variety of healthy food options with an emphasis on whole grains, low saturated fats, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. As a Team Nutrition school we will be promoting student consumption of healthy foods and healthy portion sizes based on the new food pyramid

The Rockwern kitchen strives to use as much locally grown and organic produce as possible. To help ensure that we are using the freshest produce and keeping you informed of what your children are eating, detailed menus will be sent home weekly. Peanut butter and jelly will be available as an alternative to the main entrée. The kitchen staff follows safe food handling procedures as well as the requirements of maintaining Kashrut.

Students choosing to bring their own lunch may do so provided it is dairy or parve and adheres to the guidelines of kashrut. Students may not bring lunch on any day that meat is served (vegetarian options will be available). For those students who have special dietary needs or food sensitivities, the kitchen will, to the best of its ability, accommodate them. A letter detailing those needs must be on file with the Food Service Director and the School Nurse.