PIERREPONT SCHOOL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The questions listed below were generated from the Parent Orientation held on May 24, 2016.
WHEN WILL STUDENTS BE PULLED FOR GIFTED & TALENTED? WILL WORK NEED TO BE MADE UP?
Students will be pulled for G&T weekly on a set schedule. The G&T teacher will share the schedule with parents at the start of the school year.
Students are responsible for the information reviewed in class, but do not have to complete classwork missed while attending G&T. Students are responsible to complete any test, quizzes, or other assessments that may be missed.
HOW ARE STUDENTS SELECTED FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED? WILL STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN G&T REMAIN IN THE PROGRAM?
Students who are identified for potential inclusion in the G&T program are evaluated at the end of the previous year for admittance in the next school. The district has set criteria for inclusion in the program. Board of Education policy R6171.2 outlines the criteria.
Students in the G&T program usually remain with the program. Student placement in the program is evaluated as needed.
WILL THERE BE A SNACK RECESS?
Teacher will incorporate a brief “working” snack into the morning schedule.
WILL PARENTS BE NOTIFIED IS THEIR CHILD IS BEING PULLED OUT FOR RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RtI) GROUPS?
Yes, letters are sent home to parents once a student in identified in need of a pull out RtI program.
EXPLAIN “CYCLES” CLASSES?
Cycle course meet daily for one quarter. Every quarter, students will “cycle” through a different course.
DOES GRADING IN THE CYLCE COURSE AFFECT THE FINAL GRADE?
Cycle courses are individual courses in which students receive a grade for the work completed during that cycle course.
IS THE DRA SYSTEM STILL USED? WILL THERE STILL BE GUIDED READING?
The Diagnostic Reading Assessment (DRA) will be utilized in grades 4-6. Teachers in grades 4 and 5 will continue to utilize the Good Habits, Great Readers curriculum, which incorporates guided reading, during ELA classes.
IS PEER TUTORING OFFERED?
Pierrepont School currently runs peer tutoring for our upper grade students during lunchtime. We plan to continue this program school wide.
WILL GRADES BE POSTED ON THE POWER SCHOOL PARENT PORTAL?
All teachers will utilize the Power School grade book. Parent Portal access will start beginning with the third quarter. Paper report cards will be issued for quarters 1 and 2.
WILL “NO FUSS LUNCH” BE AVAILABLE?
The PTA sponsors this program. The PTA plans to continue with the program.
WHAT IS THE ANTICPATED CLASS SIZE?
We are anticipating class sizes to be between 25-27 students.
ARE THERE PLANS TO IMPROVE THE OUTDOOR RECESS AREA?
This is not planned for the 2016-2017 school year. This will be evaluated for the next budget cycle.
HOW IS THE FOCUS ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLE INTRODUCED IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES?
The Physical Education curriculum focuses on skill development in various team and individual sports, as well as teamwork and cooperation skills and developing healthy habits.
ARE THE PORTABLE CLASSROOMS SECURED?
All classrooms are kept locked throughout the day. The courtyard gate in kept locked with the exception of arrival and dismissal time.
WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAM WILL BE UTILIZED FOR CODING? WILL FLOW CHARTS AND ALGORITHMS BE TAUGHT PRIOR TO EXPLORIGN CODING? The code.org curriculum will be used for computer coding lessons. This curriculum covers “unplugged” activities that are the building blocks to coding in conjunction with online activities. The code.org curriculum can be viewed on the code.org website.
WILL THE DOORS AT PIERREPONT AND UNION SCHOOL OPEN AT THE SAME TIME?
Union School doors will be open at 7:40 a.m. Supervised line up at Pierrepont School will begin at 7:50 a.m. Students will enter the building at 8:05 a.m.
THE 6TH GRADE STEM ELECTIVE SEEMS ADVANCED, AS THE STUDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED TO STEM.
There are no prerequisites for STEM. As this is the first year STEM is being formally introduced to the students, the teacher will spend time throughout the course introducing STEM principles and introducing the components of inquiry-based learning.
IS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC A REQUIRED CLASS?
No, this is an optional program that is open to all students.
WHAT INSTRUCMENTS ARE AVAILBLE TO PLAY IN THE BAND?
There are a variety of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments to choose from. Contact our band directors Joe Cavezza at jcavezza@rutherfordschools.org or Mike Faugno at mfaugno@rutherfordschools.org for further information.
WHEN WILL THE BAND SCHEDULE BE SET?
Full band rehearsals may take place and/or after school. The band rehearsal schedule will be set early in the school year after the band directors have a sense of the size of the band(s).
IS THERE AN AUDITORIUM OR A STAGE AT PIERREPONT SCHOOL?
We have a Multi-Purpose Room (MPR), which serves as our cafeteria and auditorium. There is a stage in the MPR.
IS THERE A CLUB EVERYDAY? IF SO, WHAT IS THE START AND END TIME?
The club schedule will be developed after the start of the school year. Clubs will begin after dismissal and generally run through 3:30. If any club needs to meet beyond 3:45 parents will be notified, as crossing guards are on duty through 4:00 pm.
The goal is to stagger the club meeting times as best as possible to allow students the opportunity to be in multiple clubs.
Due to professional meetings, clubs will rarely if ever, meet on Mondays.
IS ODYSSEY OF THE MIND OPEN TO 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS?
Odyssey of the Mind will be open to all grade levels.
WHAT IS THE COST FOR COURTESY/SUBSCRIPTION BUSING?
The cost for busing is $100 per child for the year.
WILL A BUS BE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES?
Currently, there is one bus planned to leave Pierrepont at 7:30 a.m. and arrive at Union at approximately 7:40 a.m. The bus going to Pierrepont will leave Union at 7:45 a.m. with an anticipate 7:45 a.m. arrival time.
At the end of the day, a bus will leave Union at 2:50 p.m. and arrive to Pierrpont at 3:00 p.m. The bus will then leave Pierrepont at 3:10 with an anticipated arrival to Union at 3:20.
The busing information sent home states that a second bus earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon will be added if needed.