Family Involvement
PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association)
Park Road’s PTSA has a very active parent volunteer group which works under the Pittsford District PTSA. PTSA works closely with staff and administration in areas of enrichment, curriculum, and recreation. Meetings are held regularly. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you wish to become an active member, please complete a PTSA volunteer form, call your PTSA chairperson, or speak with your child’s classroom teacher. For more information regarding Park Road’s PTSA, please visit the following link: http://www.pittsfordptsa.net
PARENT PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT
Park Road offers many opportunities through the school and in conjunction with our PTSA for parents to get involved. Special events and programs include: Grade Level Orientations, Spring Open House, Fall Picnic, Parent Teacher Conferences, Book Fair, Talent Show, Field Day, Flag Day, Halloween Parade, and many more. Additionally, many teachers at our prima-ry grade encourage parent support during instructional blocks during the day and we also encourage parents to come in and have lunch with students.
If parents have questions or concerns, we encourage parents to have a direct conversation with the classroom teacher or the teacher connected to the subject area. If parents feel concerns have not been addressed, they should then connect with the school principal or counselor depending on the nature of the concern.
PERSONAL PROPERTY / ELECTRONICS / ELECTRONIC DEVICES
A student’s personal property is the sole responsibility of the student. Students should not bring large sums of money or valuable/irreplaceable personal items to school. Under no conditions should money or valuables be left lying around loose. Students must report any theft to the Principal.
Cell Phones and Related Electronic Devices: Recently we have seen in increase in students who have electronic devices in school and who are using them inappropriately and at inappropriate times. I wanted to remind all parents of our school district’s policies relative to electronic devices (see below). I also wanted to clarify that the devices that fall under this policy are not just cell phones, but include other devices such as smart phones and smart wearables.
“The Pittsford Central School District is committed to providing a variety of opportunities for students to obtain, process, evaluate and use information. The District’s ongoing Bring Your Own Device procedure supplements existing computer access by allowing students to bring and use their own personal electronic devices under certain guidelines. These devices include, but are not limited to: laptops, tablets, smart phones, smart wearables and other similar devices to access the District’s wireless network during the school day.
While this blended model of access to electronic technology may be beneficial, students are not required to bring a device to school, and the District seeks to prevent the usage of personal elec-tronic devices in ways that disrupt the educational environment of the school or jeopardize the safety, health and well-being of students and employees. The below information summarizes ex-pectations for student usage of personal electronic devices.”
Policies around the use of electronic devices vary by school level. At the elementary level, the language is below:
Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
“Students are allowed to bring personal electronic devices to school; however, they are to re-remain off and kept in students’ bags for the duration of the school day.”
I would encourage parents NOT to have students bring cell phones or electronic devices, such as Smart-phones, to school. Please know that if they do we will need to ask them to put them in backpacks for the day.
Games and Toys:
Items of significant value should not be brought to school. Electronic games/gadgets are not permitted during school hours. Any other items should have the prior approval of the teacher.
Care of Personal Property:
A student’s personal property is the sole responsibility of the student. Students should not bring large sums of money or valuable/irreplaceable personal items to school. The replacement of lost, damaged or stolen property is not covered by the District’s insurance and the District does not replace personal property. During recess and lunch, students are responsible for the safe-keeping of all personal belongings. Please note this also applies to after-school activities.
REPORT CARDS and PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Report cards are completed in November, March, and at the end of the year.
Purpose of K-5 Report Cards
The Pittsford School District is committed to establishing open and clear communication be-tween parents, students, and teachers. The report card is an important vehicle that teachers can use to share information about students/ progress. Students should be told how they are pro-gressing in schools and affirmed for their efforts. Parents must be informed about their children’s progress so they can support and promote their children’s education. Teachers and parents are encouraged to work together to develop ways to promote children’s personal, social and academic development.
Marking System
The District recognizes that experiences of success and accomplishment are essential for the development of student’s positive self-esteem. The marking system for the report card has been revised to communicate achievement of learner outcomes and the amount of effort put forth. Reporting about the achievement of learner outcomes evaluates students’ work in terms of objectives and expectations that have been previously established and communicated. This marking system does not provide information about a student’s progress compared to the other students in the class or grade level.
Kindergarten report cards will be printed and sent home in November (abbreviated version), March and June. 1st – 5th grade report cards will be live via the Parent Portal in November, March and June (also sent home in June). Special Area (art, music, PE) will be provided twice per year (January and June).
Conference Procedures
In grades K-5 there will be one (1) mandatory conference in the fall for each child. The Report Card will be the basis for the fall conference (at 10 weeks). The spring conference is optional and determined/scheduled between the classroom teacher and parents.
Pictures at School
Parents should NOT take pictures if you are in for lunch or recess. A big event like the Halloween Parade is fine (and fine for our parents who take pictures for the Yearbook), but for day to day, please don’t take pictures of other people’s children as that has made kids and other parents feel uncomfortable. In this day and age where pictures can end up in many places on social media, taking pictures is not appropriate in school. Please call with any questions.
Yearly Events at PRE
- Welcome Back Picnic (September)
The Welcome Back Picnic is an event to help kick off a great school year. This event is held in the back of the school after school hours. Students and family members come to play on the playground, eat pizza, enjoy music, play games, and participate in many other family friendly events outside.
- Red Ribbon Week (October)
Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States. At PRE we celebrate good health and strong minds during this week. Each day students and staff members are encouraged to wear or partake in events school-wide (i.e., wear red, eat a healthy snack, do the Chicken Dance, etc.) - Fall/Spring Book Fair (October)
A scholastic book fair is organized and run by the PTSA. The book fair is open for students and teachers to purchase books. There are two book fairs held each year; one in the fall and one in the spring. - Halloween Parade (October)
Halloween is quite an event at PRE! Students and staff enjoy dressing up and parading around the bus loop for family and friends. A sing-along or musical event typically occurs at the end of the day school-wide. - Light the Loop (October)
This event is held in the evening. Students and family members are welcome to attend the event to participate in various games and activities while socializing. - Visiting Author (Spring)
Each year, PRE welcomes a new author to the school to share about his/her books. Students attend a presentation led by the author. Staff members welcome the visiting author by participating in a luncheon in the library. - Open House/Ice Cream Social (April/May)
Parents and students are encouraged to attend the open house as an opportunity to get to see the students’ hard work in their classrooms. Various projects and lessons are on display during this event. An ice-cream social is held in the cafeteria for families to socialize. - Flag Day (June)
PRE welcomes Veterans and family members/relatives that are active law enforcement officers and first responders to come and celebrate Flag Day. As a school, we recognize and applaud all visitors at this event. PRE students and staff participate in a sing-along of American themed songs. Family and friends are welcome to participate in the event outside in the bus loop, weather pending. - Field Day (June)
Students participate in various activities/events (i.e., relay races, standing long jump, human crochet, etc.) throughout the day. There are ribbons awarded to participants and an overall classroom tally is collected and a winning team is announced. Weather pending, this event is held outdoors. Staff members are assigned to lead events through-out the day. - 5th Grade Moving up Ceremony (June)
On the last day of school, there is a ceremony and picnic for all the fifth grade students. Family members are welcome to attend this event to help celebrate moving on to middle school.
All visitors are expected to comply with the District’s Code of Conduct at all times.