Dear Parents/Guardians:
On behalf of our entire staff at Washington School, welcome for the 2023-2024 school year! I trust that you have had a relaxing and enjoyable summer with your respective families. While much information has been provided to you through our summer correspondences, there is still more to share. Please take the time to read on so that you will be well informed with regard to school policies and procedures. I look forward to working with you as partners in education.
Student Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct
Our Student/Parent Handbook is an important reference tool for parents and guardians. An updated version is now available on our Washington School website. Please visit our website at www.rutherfordschools.org. Click on Washington School and then on Washington Quick Links. The Rutherford Public Schools Code of Conduct for K-3 can also be accessed via Quick Links.
Important Dates
- September 7 First Day of School for all students
- September 20 Back to School Night
- September 21 School Pictures
- October 3 PTA meeting
Attendance and Tardiness
Regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to student learning and efficiency in our classrooms. Students in grades 1-3 should report to school between 8:20 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and enter via the “triple doors” (door #6) unless otherwise noted. Students arriving after 8:35 a.m. will be considered tardy. If you are in danger of being late, do not drop your child off and leave the area. Please do not put your child in this predicament. Students arriving after 8:35 a.m. must report to the main office and be signed in by a parent.
Notification of Absences
Parents/guardians are to notify the school secretary, prior to 8:30 a.m., if their child is going to be absent. This is an essential safety measure which allows us to readily account for each of our students. Upon returning to school, the student must deliver a note written by a parent or guardian explaining each day of absence as per Rutherford Board of Education policy. Medical excuses from doctors should be submitted immediately upon a child’s return to school. These medical notes become part of the student’s attendance record and are necessary should a student exceed the limit of allowable absences and an appeal need to be made by the parent(s). The school district will not honor retroactive medical excuses from doctors.
Student Dress Code
Students are expected to be dressed appropriately for a school setting. Frayed jeans and frayed or cutoff shorts are not permitted. Shorts should be long enough to provide adequate coverage. All students should wear shirts and tops that cover their shoulders and chests sufficiently. Tank tops and basketball style jerseys with open sleeves are not permitted. For safety, no open backed footwear (flip-flops, etc.) is permissible. For our complete dress code, please consult the handbook.
Forgotten Items
Parent/guardian visits to drop off forgotten items will be limited. Acceptable items for drop off are glasses, forgotten lunches, and sneakers. This should not occur, however, on a regular basis. Parents should not come to school to drop off non-essential items such as water bottles, pencils, and other items that the school already has.
Drop-Off Lane
The Washington Avenue side of the school has been established as a “drop-off only” zone. Wait to have your child exit your vehicle until yours is one of the first three cars at the front of the drop-off lane. Parents will not be permitted to exit their cars at all in this area. Prepare your child to exit your car from the passenger side only. Depart immediately once your child has safely exited your vehicle.
Parking and Student Safety
If you choose to walk your child to the door, park on the blocks near the school, but not on those adjacent to the property. There can be no sustained parking in front of the school on Wood Street or in the designated Washington Avenue drop-off lane. There is a crossing guard at the corner of Wood Street and Washington Avenue. All students should cross into the supervised, safe zone. Students and parents should not cross the street in front of, or through, the drop-off lane.
Double parking will not be permitted at any time, including during dismissal. Please allow yourself extra time to park on the blocks near the school and walk to the building. Do not block intersections by illegally parking near corners. With the safety and well-being of the children in mind, strict adherence to these policies will be enforced with assistance from the Rutherford Police Department.
Jeans Days
Periodically, you will notice that our staff members are wearing jeans. The purpose of our Jeans Days is to raise money for the Rutherford Education Foundation (REF) and the Rutherford Education Association (REA) scholarship program. Our teachers and support staff enthusiastically support the efforts of the REF and the REA.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Bill Mulcahy