District Information Guide - South Brunswick Public Schools

South Brunswick School DistrictInformation Guide 2012 - 2013Emilia S.Gopi P.“Success is a Choice”George J.Kelly H.Alexis D. Katie R.

Affirmative ActionIn compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Section 504 of theRehabilitation Act of 1973 and other Federal, State and local laws, South BrunswickSchool District does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, gender, sexualorientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or status as a disabled orVietnam-era veteran in its employment process or in any other aspects of its educationalprograms or activities.Complaints or concerns regarding Section 504 should be addressed to RaphaelMorales, Director of Student Services, at (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5101 or John Bruff, Directorof Buildings and Grounds, at (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5109. All other complaints should beaddressed to Richard Chromey, Director of Human Resources, at (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5107or Jennifer Diszler, Director of Professional Development, at (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5122.Student: Bhavna GanesanTeacher: Kristin MallonCambridge School“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”3AttendancePunctuality and attendance are importanthabits for students to developand maintain. In keeping withthe NJ State Education Code, weexpect that, except in the case ofillness, State-recognized religiousobservances (a list of the State ofNew Jersey Approved ReligiousHolidays is on page 30) emergenciessuch as family illness or death,or special educational opportunities(e.g., a required college visit),children should be in school andarrive on time. To be considered“excused” for the reasons notedabove, there must be parental/guardian notice to the school with the reason for absence/lateness.On a day when an absence is for reasons other than those noted above as “excused,” theday of absence is recorded as “unexcused” and goes into the child’s permanent recordmarked as such. Please note that family vacations and other non-educational activitiesare not included in the list of “excused” absences above. They are considered “unexcused”absences, and should be planned so they do not interfere with school attendance.Parents/guardians must assume full responsibility for all missed academic assignments.Teachers will not provide work in advance of such absences.In the event of four or more cumulative “unexcused” absences or in instances whereparents/guardians permit excessive absenteeism, the District will follow the guidelinesin accordance with NJSA 18A and make contact with law enforcement and other authoritiesand agencies as State and Federal statutes require. Excessive absences at anygrade level could impede a student’s ability to advance to the next grade or participate ingraduation. Please refer to the Student/Parent Handbook where the full attendancepolicy is outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.It is a parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to call the school when a child is going to beabsent. The District’s voicemail system is operative 24 hours a day so you may placea call at any time. It is District policy that any “un-notified absence” will result in a callfrom the school and will be classified as “unexplained” and then recorded into the child’srecord as “unexcused.” Please note that except under previously-approved and specialcircumstances, a student who is absent from school during the day may NOT participatein any after school or evening events.If a student has an absence during the district or state standardized testing periods asadvertised on the District calendar, he/she will only be able to make-up the test during thescheduled retake period that follows the testing period. This includes end-of-year finalexams and math tests at all levels.Board of EducationThe South Brunswick Board of Education holds two regular meetings monthly, typicallyon Monday evenings, in the auditorium of Crossroads North Middle School, 635 GeorgesRoad, Monmouth Junction. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. TheBoard may take action at either meeting. All meetings are advertised in local newspapersand, unless noted as confi dential, are open to the public.Board meetings are taped and rebroadcast on Viking Television Network, Comcast CableChannel 28 or Verizon FIOS Channel 36. Meetings are replayed regularly throughoutthe week. Check VTN to view the rebroadcast schedule or view the schedule online atwww.sbschools.org.Members of the public are encouraged to attend Board meetings and to express theiropinions on matters that appear on the meeting agenda or other topics. Time is setaside at each Board meeting for public comment. Although not required, the Board requeststhat residents who are interested in speaking at a Board meeting register with theBoard Secretary’s offi ce prior to the meeting by calling (732) 297-7800, Ext. 3110 andspeaking with Marcia Garitano. Residents will be heard during the two portions of themeeting designated for public comment.Annual School ElectionsOn January 17, 2012, Governor Chris Christie signed into law Senate Bill 3148 givingcommunities the option of moving the school elections from their current date, the thirdTuesday in April, to the November general election. The move places school boardcandidates on the November ballot, but it eliminates the annual vote on proposed schoolbudgets that are at or below the state’s 2-percent tax levy cap.On February 6, 2012, the South Brunswick Board of Education approved unanimously aresolution that moves the school elections from April to the general election in November.The date of this year’s general election is Tuesday, November 6. Polls are open from

6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. At the general election, registered voters have the opportunity tovote on select members of the nine member Board of Education.Information regarding South Brunswick school elections and the District’s proposedbudget is discussed at Board of Education and public Budget Committee meetings aswell as published in local newspapers, District publications, and posted on the District’sWeb site, www.sbschools.org.Voter RegistrationResidents who are at least 18-years old, citizens of the United States and have lived inMiddlesex County for at least 30 days may register to vote. Voter RegistrationApplications must be received by the Middlesex County Board of Elections 21 days priorto an election. A Voter Registration Application can be found in the back of this calendar.Complete, sign and mail the application to the address that appears on the form. Faxedcopies cannot be accepted as an original signature is required.Vote by MailIn New Jersey, voters now have the option to vote by mail in any election. Voters nolonger need a reason to vote by mail. An individual who is already registered to vote mayapply to vote by mail by completing a Vote by Mail Application and mailing it to ElaineM. Flynn, Middlesex County Clerk, P.O. Box 1110, 75 Bayard Street, Fourth Floor, NewBrunswick, NJ 08901-1110 at least 7 days prior to the election. A voter may also apply inperson at the Middlesex County Clerk’s Offi ce until 3:00 p.m. the day before the election.The County Clerk cannot accept faxed copies of the Vote by Mail Application since anoriginal signature is required.Code of Student ConductAll schools in the South Brunswick School District share the common mission to fosterpositive school citizenship. To that end, we embrace the following core values or CARES:C CooperationA AssertionR ResponsibilityE EmpathyS Self-control“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”4The ultimate purpose of the code of student conduct is the development of self-discipline.In all of the South Brunswick Schools, we strive to be consistent, firm but fair, and awareof the pride and dignity of every student. We expect students to behave responsibly,to respect the rights and properties of others, and to work cooperatively with all membersof the school community. We expect students to follow the code of student conductand the specifi c behavioral guidelines established in each class. Students are accountableto all school personnel for their behavior while on school property, at any schoolsponsoredfunction, at the bus stop, on a school bus, walking to and from school, in thebefore or after school programs, or off school grounds, when substantial disruption to theorderly operation of the school results. This includes online behavior (that is, behaviortransmitted by an electronic device).When a student commits an offense, theschool staff helps the student to see therelationship between the offense and therelated core value. When logical consequencesare applied, age-specific parametersare used. The student’s developmentalneeds and history of unacceptablebehavior, as well as the circumstances ofthe offense are taken into consideration.Please refer to the Elementary, Middleor High School Code of Student Conductthat is included in each school’s Student/Parent Handbook. The code includes developmentally-appropriatestudent rightsand responsibilities, a level-specific list oflogical consequences, due process information,behavioral support information,and several policies related to conductStudent: Aastha Dasincluding attendance, acceptable use ofTeacher: Ellen Kazartechnology, bus conduct, weapons andBrooks Crossing Schooldangerous instruments, and harassment,intimidation and bullying, and a statement about public complaints and inquiries.As students progress through the school system and into the high school, they continueto build upon this basic core while also emphasizing the values of Honesty, Respect,Kindness, Service, and Responsibility.Our primary goal is to maintain a safe and caring community. This is supported bythe District’s proactive, intentional approaches to Character Education—ElementaryResponsive Classroom, Middle School Developmental Designs, and High School Strivefor Five (Ethics and Excellence)--which foster social, emotional and academic growth.CommunicationThe District understands and values the importance of effective communication betweenschool and home. The District uses electronic means as its primary communicationvehicle to keep our families and the community informed about information relatedto our schools. However, if the need arises, a letter from the building principal or theSuperintendent may be sent home through the postal mail or in students’ backpacks onany day throughout the school year. Parents or guardians are encouraged to check theirchild’s backpack, mail and e-mail daily.

AutoDialer/School MessengerThe District may implement its automated telephone communication system,AutoDialer/School Messenger, at any time. This communication enables administrationto reach thousands of phone numbers in a matter of minutes. This system will be usedto communicate emergency information to the home phone numbers parents have onrecord with their child’s school, including but not limited to inclement weather closings,early dismissals and/or other information deemed important by the District. In such instances,parents or guardians will need to have emergency accommodations in place.At the start of the school year, parents or guardians have the opportunity to add additionalphone numbers onlinewith School Messenger for theAutoDialer emergency notifi cation.Please contact Patti Gableat (732) 297-7800, Ext. 3107 formore information or assistance.If telephone numbers change,parents and guardians have theresponsibility for ensuring thatthis information is updated by loggingon to School Messenger andfollowing the necessary steps.Student: Sapna MarthiTeacher: Tracy KociolekConstable School“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”5Parents and guardians shouldalso keep the school’s mainoffi ce abreast of any phonenumber changes.Emergency E-mail AlertsThe District offers e-mail notifi cation/alert services to subscribers. In the event of anemergency (example – inclement weather closing/emergency dismissal or cancellationof after-school/evening activities), the District may utilize the Emergency E-mailnotification service to communicate. This supplements the AutoDialer system. To sign upto receive e-mail alerts, visit www.sbschools.org and click on the e-mail Quick Links orrefer to the E-Mail Notifi cation Form on page 33 of this guide.Family Connect for Middle and High SchoolFamily Connect is a tool that is integrated into the PowerSchool Student InformationSystem. Family Connect gives high school and middle school parents and studentsaccess to real-time information about attendance, grades, assignments, and other information.High School students also register for courses online through Family Connect.For more details visit Family Connect on our Web site, www.sbschools.org.Media and WebPursuant to the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), school districts arepermitted to release “school directory information” unless parents exercise their right ofrefusal. Under the FERPA law, this information could include: student name, residentialaddress, e-mail address, phone numbers, photographs/images, school locations, fieldof study, degrees, honors and awards received and participation in athletics and otheractivities.It is the intent and practice of the School District to publish, post online to District-hostedor District-approved sites, or distribute a student’s name and/or photograph, audio and/or video recording, displays of work or other information related only to student achievementor accomplishment (e.g. academic/athletic recognition, award received, selectedwork).Annually, South Brunswick School District provides parents or guardians with the opportunityto rescind this permission through the issuance of Media and Web Non-Consentforms. Parents or guardians who do not grant the District permission to release“directory” type information, as it relates to student achievement or accomplishment,must sign and return the necessary paperwork to the school main office by the date indicatedon the form. Permission may be rescinded at any time during the school year bycontacting the school directly.Online Friday Folders K-8/HS E-mail UpdatesOur K-8 schools send a weekly electronic communication to parents and guardians andthe High School sends periodic updates to its parents. These communications couldinclude information/announcements from the principal and school as well as Communityorganization fl yers such as recreation or scouts. This electronic communication will bethe primary communication outlet to our families. Materials that are sensitive in nature(e.g. class trip permission slips) are sent home in hard copy. There may be instances -such as health-related updates - that require more than one communication to be sentout each week.Parents and guardians should sign up for this e-mail service offered by the School Districtso that they may be immediately apprised of emergency information. Register byclicking on the e-mail Quick Links located on the District’s Web site, www.sbschools.orgor refer to the E-Mail Notifi cation Form on page 33. Parents or guardians with children inmultiple grade levels or school buildings have the ability to sign up to receive more thanone communication.As students advance to the next grade level or move to another building, parents areasked to update their subscription (e.g. from grade 5 to 6 or 9 to 10, etc.) as the Districtdoes not determine/dictate what should be received. This is a privacy/choice issue andone that can be changed only by the parent or guardian.Spotlight on SchoolsThe District’s newsletter, Spotlight on Schools, has moved to an electronic newsletterformat and is e-mailed to subscribers. If you would like to receive Spotlight on Schoolsvia e-mail, please visit our web site, www.sbschools.org.

Web SiteThe District’s Web site, www.sbschools.org, is another information source for ourparents and guardians. The site provides up-to-date news, including but not limited toneed-to-know information, policies and upcoming events and/or emergency information.Each school hosts and maintains its own Web site, which communicates informationdirectly targeted to its parent community. Important announcements and school policiesare posted on the individual school sites. Contact information for staff members isalso made available on the site. If the need arises, the District’s Home Page features ascrolling Announcement Banner that contains important information such as schoolclosings, registration dates and links to announcements or press releases. Each schoolalso has the ability to post an Announcement Banner to their individual site, if needed.Viking Television NetworkThe District operates two television stations. One station is used for internal use atSouth Brunswick High School and includes live broadcasts of the morning announcementsand other high school-related programming. Viking Television Network (VTN)broadcasts to the community through Comcast Cable Channel 28/Verizon FIOSChannel 36. The station broadcasts a bulletin board slide show of upcoming eventsand/or important announcements. Board meetings are replayed on this stationregularly. Other programming includes District events and features activities from alllevels. The broadcast schedule for VTN is also on our Web Site at www.sbschools.org.Community EducationThe Community Education program fosters life-long learning by offering a variety ofenrichment services to the community through its Community School, Summer Campsand Before and After School program. Detailed information can be found on theCommunity Education webpage at www.sbschools.org/community-ed.Adult Community SchoolMore than 100 enrichment courses are offered, ranging in duration from one meetingto semester-long classes. Choose from year-round Tennis, Cooking, Computers, Arts,Exercise, Dance, Finance and many others. Brochures are available at www.sbschools.org in August, December and February. Copies will also be available at our schools andlocal libraries. For more information about adult classes or teaching adult classes, callNancy Kinal at (732) 297-7800, Ext. 3148.Before and After School ProgramCommunity Education offers quality Before and After School programs for students inGrades K-8. Before School program participants can be dropped off as early as 7:00a.m. and those in the After School program may remain until 6:00 p.m. Following thestandards of the National After School Association, children participate in a variety ofeducational and recreational projects and activities. Students have a snack, designatedhomework time and outdoor recreation time, weather permitting.“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”6Online Registration began in June 2012 for 2012-2013 school year with a deadlinedate of July 20, 2012. Registration forms received after July 20 will be placedon a wait list based on staff and space availability. To register, visit our web site,www.sbschools.org/community_ed.Holiday CampHoliday Camp, for students in Grades K-8, operates from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ondesignated days throughout the school year when school is not in session. Studentsparticipate in a variety of recreational activities. Check the Community EducationWeb site, www.sbschools.org or the District’s calendar for specific camp dates. Sitelocations rotate throughout the District.Summer Camps (Pre-K to Teens)Summer Day Camps for grades 1-8 operatefrom 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for eight weeks.Children enjoy recreational and enrichmentactivities, swimming and fi eld trips, and areinstructed by excellent staff. For additionalinformation, visitwww.sbschools.org/community_ed.Summer Enrichment Camps combine fun,exploration and learning and include Math andReading Academic Enrichment, SummertimeTrio, Summer Mania, Super Sports, Music,Theatre and Advanced Drawing. Children enteringKindergarten can enroll in KindergartenPrep, Kinder Fun, Super Sports, Gymnasticsand Tennis.Summer Sports Camps combine fun with anopportunity for students to improve their skillsin various sports. Most camps are led byViking coaches.Student: Kenny KwokTeacher: Jennifer KipnisGreenbrook SchoolBrochures will be posted atwww.sbschools.org and will be mailedto all K-8 students in February. Tuition assistanceis available to South Brunswick families for all children’s programs. ContactMaria Chavkin at (732) 297-7800, Ext. 3175 for tuition assistance information.

Drug/Alcohol PolicyThe Board of Education recognizes that a pupil’s use and abuse of harmful substancesseriously impedes that pupil’s education and threatens the welfare of the entire schoolcommunity.The Board is committed to the prevention of substance abuse and the rehabilitation ofsubstance abusers by educational means, but will take the necessary and appropriatesteps to protect the school community from harm and from exposure to harmful substances.Accordingly, the Board will establish and maintain a comprehensive substanceabuse intervention, prevention, and treatment referral program in the schools of thisDistrict.“Substance” refers to or includes alcoholic beverages, controlled dangerous substances,including: anabolic steroids, any chemical or chemical compound which releasedvapors or fumes causing a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, ordulling of the brain or nervous system; including, but not limited to, glue containinga solvent having the property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes and over-thecounterand prescription medications which are improperly used to cause intoxication,inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, or dulling of the brain or nervous system.“Substance abuse” means the consumption or use of any substance for purposes otherthan for the treatment of sickness or injury as prescribed or administered by a personduly authorized by law to treat sick and injured human beings.A pupil who uses, possesses, or distributes a substance, on school premises, will besubject to discipline. Sanctions will be graded to the severity of the offenses, the natureof the problems and the pupil’s needs. Sanctions may include suspension or expulsion.The Board may establish consequences for a pupil not following through on the recommendationsof an evaluation for alcohol or other drug abuse and related behaviors. TheSuperintendent and/or designee will notifythe appropriate law enforcement agency.“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”7A full copy of the District’s Drug andAlcohol Policy can be found on the District’sweb site, www.sbschools.org as well ason the middle school and high school’s websites.Brunswick Township Police Department and the Department of Public Works when decidingwhether to close school or operate under a 90-minute delay.The best interest of all students is paramount during the decision-making process.District officials make every effort to make decisions about school closures or delayedopeningsby 5:30 a.m.Notifi cation is broadcast by local radio stations WCTC (1450 AM) and WPST (94.5 FM)between 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Information will also be broadcast on Comcast CableChannel 28/Verizon FIOS Channel 36 (Viking Television Network), Channel 4 (NBC),Channel 7 (ABC) and News 12 New Jersey (Comcast Cable Channel 62) and a scrollingbanner located on the Home Page of the District Web site, www.sbschools.org.The District will communicate changes in its school schedule to parents or guardiansthrough the AutoDialer/School Messenger system. As referenced earlier, the AutoDialerSystem can reach thousands of phone numbers within a matter of minutes. Parents orguardians will, in such instances, need to have emergency accommodations in place. Allparents and guardians are encouraged to utilize this service.Additionally, the District communicates emergency information via its e-mail notificationservice. Important notifications that call for parents or guardians to take action (i.e.school evacuation because of a power outage) may also be sent to subscribers of thee-mail notifi cation system, if deemed necessary by the Administration. Persons interestedin receiving such notification can sign up by clicking on the E-mail Notification linkon the District Home Page, www.sbschools.org.In case of technology failure, the most reliable form of communication for emergencyclosings is the radio. Do not rely solely on the AutoDialer system, District Web site, thetelevision or E-mail notification for information. Please do not call the TransportationDepartment and/or township police for information.When the District operates under a 90-minute delay (one and a half hours), bus pickupswill be 90 minutes (one and one half hours) later than normal pick-up times. Anybefore-school music program is automatically cancelled when the District operates undera delayed-opening schedule. The Before School Childcare Program will begin at 8:30a.m. In times of inclement weather, all special education out-of-district placements willfollow South Brunswick School District’s schedule.Student: Grace GuiTeacher: Tracey DovasCrossroads South Middle SchoolEmergency SchoolClosing InformationIn cases of inclement weather, it is the intentof the Superintendent to ensure thesafety of all students and employees. TheSuperintendent of Schools, the BusinessAdministrator and the Director of Buildingsand Grounds collaborate with the SouthIn the unusual event where emergency/inclement weather conditions require an earlyclosing of schools, parents or guardians will be notified immediately via the Auto Dialer/School Messenger and the Emergency E-mail Notification System.Please note – Three inclement weather days are built into the School District’scalendar. School will be in session on the following days, in the order listed, onlyif they are necessary to make up days lost due to emergency closing – April 1,May 28, and May 24.

Facility MaintenanceAnnual Asbestos NoticeIn compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos HazardEmergency Response Act (AHERA), South Brunswick School District is required annuallyto inform all parents, teachers and staff as to the availability of our asbestos managementplan as well as any activities which have taken place in the previous year.A periodic surveillance of asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) is performed inall District buildings every six months. A complete re-inspection of all buildings containingasbestos is completed every three years and was last completed in July 2010. Informationabout these inspections is included in the AHERA Asbestos Management Plan, whichcan be found in each school’s main offi ce and at the Board of Education MaintenanceAnnex located at 4 Executive Drive, Monmouth Junction. Over the past year, the Districthas removed asbestos-containing materials from a few of our buildings. This work wasdone by a licensed contractor as part of our completion of routine maintenance tasks.The District continues to update and improve the AHERA Asbestos Management Plan.This work includes the sampling of materials that were originally assumed to containasbestos. Questions or concerns should be addressed to John Bruff, Director ofBuildings and Grounds, (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5109.Annual Integrated Pest Management NotificationIn accordance with State law (New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act),South Brunswick School District is required to annually notify all staff, students andparents of the District policy.Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic, preventative approach to managingpests. As part of the District’s pest management plan, the District may use pesticides tocontrol pests. The District posts a copy of its Pest Management Policy; the date, time andplace of any meeting, if one is being held, for the purpose of adopting or modifying thePolicy or Plan. Finally, the District posts a list of pesticides that have been used duringthe past calendar year, on any school property, on its Web site at www.sbschools.org.The District has an IPM Coordinator, John Bruff, who maintains the pesticide productlabel and the Material Safety Data Sheet (when one is available) of each pesticide productthat may be used on school property. The label and the data sheet are available forreview by a parent, guardian, staff member or student attending the school.South Brunswick School District may use pesticides to control pests. The United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of EnvironmentalProtection (DEP) register pesticides to determine that the use of a pesticide in accordancewith instructions printed on the label does not pose an unreasonable risk to humanhealth and the environment. Nevertheless, the EPA and the DEP cannot guarantee thatregistered pesticides do not pose any risk to human health, thus unnecessary exposureto pesticides should be avoided. The EPA has issued the statement that, where possible,persons who are potentially sensitive, such as pregnant women, infants and children,“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”8should avoid unnecessary pesticide exposure. Questions regarding the District’s IPMshould be addressed to Mr. Bruff. He can be reached at 4 Executive Drive, MonmouthJunction or by calling (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5109.Gifted and Talented ServicesAs a District, we believe many of our children possess special talents and gifts. Throughcomprehensive K-12 Gifted and Talentedservices, it is our professionalresponsibility to recognize and nurturethose talents as they emerge.We look to develop the whole childby offering an overall enriching environmentthat enhances the child’sdevelopment on a daily basis in anatural school setting, as well as byoffering experiencesbeyond the regular class.Student: Natasha BadamiTeacher: Tracey DovasCrossroads South Middle SchoolThe South Brunswick School DistrictGifted and Talented Services arecentered on a three-tiered approachto afford fl exibility to meet the varyingneeds, abilities and interests of students. Tier I includes enrichment within the regularclassroom and enrichment in “Good For All” experiences, Tier II includes enrichmentbeyond the regular classroom, and Tier III includes advancement and/or accelerationabove grade level.Throughout these areas of focus, students are identified and encouraged to exploreissues of diversity, community, and the world around them in an ongoing and flexiblemanner. In an effort to “label the program and not the child,” at no time will a child receivethe title Gifted and Talented, as it burdens the child both emotionally and socially.For additional information on the District’s Gifted and Talented Services, visit theDistrict’s Web site, www.sbschools.org.Graduation RequirementsThe District’s curricula is written from a K-12 perspective with the goal of preparingall students to meet the high school graduation requirements as set forth byState code. To view the District curriculum guides, please go to the District Web sitewww.sbschools.org. Click on Departments and go to Curriculum and Instruction.The guides are also available in the schools and in the Central Office curriculum library.Assessments: The State of New Jersey mandates all high school students pass theHigh School Profi ciency Assessment (HSPA) in the areas of English Language Artsand Mathematics in either their junior or senior year in order to qualify to receive astandard New Jersey High School diploma. The State also mandates that an “end-

of-course” assessment be taken in the area of Biology. In addition, all students takingSenior Health must complete the 12th Grade Research Task in which students selecta critical health issue, conduct research and compose an advocacy paper in whichthey take a stance and support their position. More information on the task can befound at http://sbsbhslibrarywiki.wikispaces.com/-the High School’s Library wiki.Credits: South Brunswick High School students must successfully earn 125 credits ofwhich 105 must come from the following required courses: four years of English, threeyears of Mathematics, four years of Health/Physical Education, three years of SocialStudies (Government and Economics, U.S. History and Global Studies), half year ofFinancial Literacy (Junior Year), three years of Science (Physical Science, BiologicalScience and an additional Science elective), two years of World Language, one year of21st Century Skills (Freshman Year) and one year of Fine, Visual or Performing Art. Formore detailed information on the High School course of studies, prerequisites and coursesequences, please go to the District Web site www.sbschools.org and visit the SBHSpage to view the current course catalog.“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”9device) whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that:• Is reasonably perceived as being motivated by either any actual or perceivedcharacteristic such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexualorientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensorydisability or by any other distinguishing characteristic; and• Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a schoolbus, or off school grounds that substantially disrupts or interferes with theorderly operation of the school or the rights of other students; and that• A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act willhave the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging thestudent’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical oremotional harm to person or damage to property; or• Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students, or• Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with astudent’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotionalharm to the student.Seeking credits through the avenues above is called Option I. It is the traditionalpath to graduation: students earn credits through successful completion of requiredcourses. Credits are awarded for student participation in a class (called “in-theseat”time). Option II is also available to students. This is an alternate routeto graduation: students fulfill credit requirements through Personalized LearningOpportunities that meet or exceed the standards and are based on student interestor career goals. Further informationon this can be found on the SBHS webpage atwww.sbschools.org.Student: Ariana DudiTeacher: Jennifer KipnisDayton SchoolNote – Assessments and credit requirements areupdated annually based on changes at the Statelevel and District policy.Harassment, Intimidationand BullyingIt is the intent of the NJ Legislature in its January 2011enactment of the new Harassment, Intimidation, andBullying (HIB) Law to strengthen the standards andprocedures for preventing, reporting, investigating,and responding to incidence of HIB of students thatoccur in school and off school premises.The District prohibits all acts of harassment, intimidationor bullying. HIB is defi ned as any gesture,written, verbal or physical act or any electroniccommunication (that is, transmitted by an electronicA HIB complaint will be investigated promptly within the defined timeline and inadherence with the procedures set forth in the District HIB Policy. A full copy of thispolicy can be found on our Web site, www.sbschools.org along with contactinformation for the District’s Anti Bullying Coordinator and each school’s Anti BullyingSpecialist.Health RegulationsIn accordance with state regulations, South Brunswick School District requires pupilsnew to the District, students entering Kindergarten, students trying out for athletic teams,students participating in Color Guard, marching band or dance and those applying forworking papers to undergo a physical examination. Physical examinations are stronglyrecommended for students in Grades 5 and 8. A private physician must completeexaminations. In the absence of a private physician, parents or guardians areencouraged to speak with the school nurse.ImmunizationsImmunizations are required for entry or attendance in school to comply with Chapter 14of the New Jersey Sanitary Code. In 2008, the State announced various changes to itsimmunization code. Please check with your physician or school nurse to ensure that yourchild is adequately immunized for their grade. Failure to provide a complete immunizationrecord can result in the child’s exclusion from school. The school nurse reviews all immunizationrecords prior to a student’s admission. Parents or guardians are encouraged tocontact the school health office to speak about an individual child’s immunization needs.Immunization waivers are honored for health or religious reasons when proper writtendocumentation is shared with the school nurse.

Student: Tess BoylerTeacher: Jill WardMonmouth Junction SchoolNutrition PolicySouth Brunswick School District contractsits school dining services through ChartwellsDining Services, which provides school lunchoptions in compliance with the State mandatedNutrition Policy.As per the District’s Nutrition Policy, SouthBrunswick schools will not serve, sell or provideon school property before the end of theschool day: foods of minimal nutritional valueas defi ned by the U.S. Department of Agricultureregulations, all food and beverage itemslisting any form of sugar as the fi rst ingredientand all forms of candy.Additionally, due to the growing number ofstudents who have been diagnosed with peanutallergies which can be fatal to some, ChartwellsSchool Dining Services no longer serves itemsthat are peanut-based or uses foods preparedwith peanut-based products in any of our cafeterias.While this change does not impact“packed” lunches or snacks, we ask that parentsand guardians be mindful of the existenceof food allergies among children and discouragesharing of snacks.“Success is a Choice”Parent-Teacher ConferencesParent-Teacher conferences help foster an open dialogue between teachers and theparents or guardians of their students. This dialogue helps teachers and parents orguardians better understand the progress and needs of the student.Although conferences can be arranged any time during the school year by contactingyour child’s teacher, formal parent-teacher conferences take place in November andApril, during a series of early release days. Schools offer evening conference timesfor parents or guardians who are unavailable during the daytime. Your school willcommunicate such availability.At the elementary level, a communication regarding the scheduling of conferences issent home to parents prior to the week of conferences. Conferences will be scheduledfor up to 15 minutes at the elementary level. At the middle and high school levels,conference times are published in advance and parents or guardians may drop-in duringthose times without an appointment.Parent-Teacher OrganizationsEach school community has a parent-teacher organization. Membership is voluntary andeach group is committed to serving as an advocate for the needs and welfare of allDistrict students. These parent organizations are links between the school and families,provide educational information and foster a sense of community among all students,staff and families.The High School has a number of opportunities for parents to become involved,including the Viking Athletic Club, Band Parents, Project Graduation and School SiteCouncil.Elementary school parents who plan to send in birthday celebratory items should bemindful of the District’s Nutrition Policy as well as the dietary restrictions of studentswithin the classroom.Free and Reduced Lunch BenefitsThe South Brunswick School District participates in the Child Nutrition Programs as defined by the Federal Government. Benefi ts for free or reduced meals are granted tofamilies that meet federally established wage earnings. Applications for lunch benefi tsmay be obtained from your child’s school. Families are encouraged to apply for benefi tsat any time throughout the school year if they feel they may qualify for lunch benefi ts.For questions regarding your family’s lunch benefi ts, please contact Patti Gable at (732)297-7800 Ext. 3107. For questions regarding your child’s lunch account balance or todetermine items being purchased, please contact Joanne Smith of Chartwells DiningService at 732-329-4044 Ext. 3263.For additional information or to become a member of any of these groups, contact yourchild’s school of attendance.Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment(PPRA)The Protection of Pupil Privacy (PPRA) requires South Brunswick School District toannually allow parents or guardians the opportunity to opt their child out of participatingin certain school activities such as a student survey, analysis or evaluation thatconcerns one or more of the following areas: political affiliations or beliefs of the studentor student’s parents or guardians; mental or psychological problems of the studentor student’s family; sex behavior or attitudes; illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating ordemeaning behavior; critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have closefamily relationships; legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers,doctors or ministers; religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or parentsor guardians; or income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

“Success is a Choice”Public Complaints and InquiriesDistrict policy 9130 provides for a forum for members of the community to resolve anymisunderstandings between the public and the School District regarding school personnel,District operations or instructional materials. Resolution is initially attempted throughdiscussion between the interested parties.RegistrationSouth Brunswick School District welcomes students of resident families enteringall grades in accordance with the District’s Registration Policy. Students enrolling inKindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year must be 5 years old on or before October 31,2012. Students entering First Grade must be 6 years old on or before October 31, 2012.A detailed list of District registration requirements and forms can be accessed at ourWeb site, www.sbschools.org, under Quick Links/Registration Information Pre-K - 12.In order to register a student in our schools, parents or guardians must present originaldocumentation in person.Enrollment is considered incomplete if all documents are not presented at the time ofregistration. Contact your prospective school of attendance to schedule an appointmentto register your child. A listing of neighborhoods to determine school assignment isposted on the District’s Web site under Quick Links/Registration Information Pre-K - 12.Although the former school district is expected to forward academic information to thenew school district upon notifi cation of enrollment, it is helpful if copies of standardizedtest scores and the latest report card are presented at the time of registration. This isnot mandatory.Space permitting, South Brunswick Schools permit “open enrollment” in a K-8 schoolother than the assigned school. Obtain an application from your child’s current school,complete and submit the application to the Principal. Approval is required by theprincipal of both schools. Please be aware that open enrolled students are noteligible for bus transportation. Transportation is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility.You will be required to reapply annually. Decisions concerning open enrollment forthe new school year will be communicated to parents in late August.Religious HolidaysState law regarding pupil absence from school due to religious holidays provides that:• Any student absent from school because of a religious holiday may not bedeprived of any award or of eligibility or opportunity to compete for any awardbecause of such absence;• Students who miss a test or examination because of absence on a religiousholiday must be given the right to take an alternative test or examination;• To be entitled to the privileges set forth above, the student must present a writtenexcuse signed by a parent or person standing in place of a parent;• Any absence because of a religious holiday must be recorded in the schoolregister or in any group or class attendance record as an excused absence;• Such absence must NOT be recorded on any transcript or application oremployment form or on any similar form.A New Jersey State approved list of religious holidays occurring during the 2012-2013school year appears on page 30 of this calendar/information guide.Report CardsParents or guardians with studentsin Grades K – 2 receive report cardsin February and June. Parents orguardians with students in Grades3 – 5 receive report cards inDecember, April and June.Crossroads Middle School reportcards are mailed home in December,March and June. Quarterlyreport cards are mailed to parentsor guardians of South BrunswickHigh School students. In addition,parents or guardians are encouragedto discuss report cards withtheir children and contact the teacherif there is a specifi c question orconcern. Interim reports will also beavailable through Family Connect,the District’s online gradebook, totrack the child’s academic progressthroughout the course of the schoolyear.Student: Alina PengTeacher: Gayle MihalkoCrossroads North Middle SchoolResidencyNew Jersey Statute 18A:38-1 and New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:22 require thata free public education be provided to students between the ages of 5 and 20, andto certain students under 5 and over 20 as specified in New Jersey law. The SouthBrunswick School District strictly adheres to these laws when determining a child’seligibility to attend school in the township. For detailed information on residency/registrationrequirements, please visit the Parents and Students tab on the District’s web site.Please be aware that any initial determination of the student’s eligibility to attend schoolin this District is subject to more thorough review and subsequent re-evaluation, and

that tuition may be assessed in the event that an initially admitted student is later foundineligible. If your student is found ineligible, now or later, you will be provided the reasonsfor our decision and instructions on how to appeal.“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”13Members include representatives from the police department, township government, thetownship Clergy Association, the School District, the local library and other communityagencies.School-Community PartnershipsSouth Brunswick Township School District has established partnerships with other agenciesto provide services andprograms for the benefit of allDistrict children. These servicesinclude community outreach intimes of crisis or when the needarises, providing mental healthservices to students and theirfamilies as well as discussiongroups for interested parties.BRIDGE CenterThe BRIDGE Center is a dynamicpartnership betweenSouth Brunswick School Districtand University BehavioralHealthcare (UBHC), a divisionof the University of Medicineand Dentistry of New Jersey(UMDNJ). The primary objectiveof the program is to help assure that pre-teens andStudent: Senthilkumar NithyanandamTeacher: Jill WardDeans Schoolteenagers have readily available access to quality counseling and other support services.The BRIDGE Center provides a range of free, confi dential recreational and mentalhealth services at South Brunswick High School and Crossroads Middle Schoolsto all middle and high school students. Services include individual, group, and familycounseling, confl ict resolution, parent support groups and recreational programming.Referrals to the center can be made by students, parents or school staff. Parentalpermission is required for participation.Community Resource Team (CRT)The Community Resource Team is an ongoing partnership with agencies and communityleaders from within the South Brunswick community that are committed to identifyingcommunity needs, establishing inter-agency agreements and providing the necessarytraining for its members and others within the community. CRT works together to fosterthe community’s well being and to assure clear, accurate and effective communicationwith township residents. In addition, CRT helps assess the effectiveness of a responsefollowing an event and provides resources needed for the community to address thefour phases of emergency management: mitigation, management, preparedness andresponse/recovery.EPIC & the South Brunswick Parent AcademyEvery Parent Infl uences Children (EPIC) is a program funded by the South BrunswickBoard of Education and the South Brunswick Municipal Alliance whose mission is tohelp parents, teachers and community members raise children to become responsibleand capable adults. EPIC offers small discussion group workshops throughout the yearfor parents or guardians focusing on positive parenting skills. EPIC also offers an onlinelibrary of parenting information from the Parent Institute which provides substantive,research-based information and support on key issues affecting children today, from theelementary to teenage years, including responsibility, discipline, school success, familytime and more. Each of the parent guides is 8-12 pages in length and is available onlineat www.sbschools.org.In addition, since 2006 EPIC has partnered with the School District to offer a series ofmonthly workshops under the umbrella of the South Brunswick Parent Academy (SBPA).SBPA was founded on the concept of “Solving the Puzzle of Parenting…One Piece at aTime.” The Parent Academy offers a range of topics from traditional EPIC workshops like“Communicating with your Child’s Teacher” and “Dealing with your Child’s Transitions,”to District workshops that focus on curriculum, technology, character education and safeand caring schools. Information regarding the SBPA curriculum is sent home throughthe Online Friday Folder.To fi nd out more about EPIC or the SBPA, visit www.sbschools.org or e-mail ProgramCoordinator, Christine Mariano, at EPIC@sbschools.org.Healthy Communities-Healthy Youth Assets Initiative (ASSETS)The mission of the HCHY Assets Initiative is to help youth thrive by making healthychoices and avoiding risky behaviors. This can be accomplished by building DevelopmentalAssets, which are building blocks of healthy development. Assets are developedthrough positive experiences and relationships, which build on the strengths and talentsof young people. The HCHY Assets Initiative is based in the South Brunswick TownshipHealth Department and partners with school and community groups to provide opportunitiesfor asset building. For information, contact healthyyouthassets@sbtnj.net or(732) 329-4000 Ext. 7237.Intergenerational PartnershipsTo better connect the senior members of our community with our students, the SouthBrunswick School District developed an Intergenerational Program-with a globalperspective-that seeks to bring senior citizens and students into one another’s lives inways that develop shared understandings. The program goals are tri-fold: to be inspiredby the wisdom of the older members of the community; to foster appreciation for the

enthusiasm of the youngest members; and to build a mutual respect. We currentlypartner with the South Brunswick Offi ce of Aging, the Senior Center, and the Aging inPlace Partnership (AIPP). Programming spans the year with events running Novemberthrough June. The programs are differentiated in order to appeal to varied interests of thesenior community and to meet the needs of the schools.Experiences range from the more passive such as audience members or viewers to opportunitiesfor active participation: to give feedback, serve as judges, sample foods, providecommentary, serve as listeners and readers, provide volunteer services in the classroomsand libraries, be interviewed, attend socials, lectures and academies, and sharebackgrounds and talents. In the past year, our 6th Annual Day with the Characters drewnearly 200 residents.Additionally, staff members from all walks of curricular life have reached out to thesenior population with some targeted projects such as the Living Legacies VeteransProject which connected the two cohorts, young and old, in a prolonged exchange ofstories about serving in the armed forces. The end result, a series of monologues, wasstudent performed at the Senior Center and is now being published for use in the District’scurriculum. For further information on intergenerational partnerships, contact theOffice of Aging at www.SBTNJ.net, or AIPP at www.AgingInPlacePARTNERSHIP.org.South Brunswick ReadsAmong the District’s many collaborations with the South Brunswick Public Libraryis the community-wide reading program called South Brunswick Reads. The schoollibrarians and the public librarians began with the simple idea that a sense of“community unity” could be built as parents, students and staff together read the samebook at the same time, and then got together to talk about it. Similar “one-book, onecommunity”reading programs have been popping up in recent years all across thecountry as a novel approach to improved literacy for all generations. In 2010-2011, theDistrict read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum and in 2011-2012 the titlewas The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The theme for 2012-2013 is “South Brunswick Reads Fairy Tales: Told, Retold and Twisted.” Further detailswill be announced in Fall 2012 when once again, participants will be invited to readthe tales and participate in various events related to the reading experience. The program’swiki, a simple, interactive web page, will be open to blog entries and will alsobe the place to fi nd related events. Find it at southbrunswickreads.pbworks.com.SUDZ (Stop Underage Drinking Zone)The Stop Underage Drinking Zone (SUDZ) was initiated by parents and is a partnershipof South Brunswick Township agencies, schools and community members whose missionis to prevent alcohol use by anyone under the age of 21. SUDZ provides informationand materials on prevention strategies. Anyone who is concerned about underagedrinking is encouraged to become involved with the initiative. For information, please callSouth Brunswick Township (732) 329-4000, Ext. 7237.“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”14School Safety/SecurityThe School District has security/safety procedures and protocols established to maintaina safe and caring learning environment. These procedures and protocols keep students,staff and visiting community members safe and secure. Among some of the safeguardsare the following: security cameras, visitor sign-in procedures, a District staff identificationsystem, secure building access, bus evacuation drills (twice a year), fire drills (oncea month) and security drills (once a month).All District schools maintain secure access to their buildings anytime students arepresent in the building. All schools have camera and buzzer entry systems, whichmonitors visitors’ access to the facility and helps ensure the safety of our students,staff and community. Visitors sign-in and areissued temporary ID badges to help distinguishall persons in our schools at all times.The recently enacted school security drillstatute requires schools to hold one schoolsecurity drill each month. The exercises assist topractice procedures that respond to an emergencysituation including, but not limited to, a non-fireevacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situationand that is similar in duration to a fi re drill.Standardized Testing/Student AssessmentAll New Jersey public school districts arerequired to administer achievement testsdeveloped by the New Jersey Departmentof Education. In 2012-2013, New Jerseystudents in Grades 3 to 8 and in Grade 11will be tested in Literacy and in Mathematics.Literacy and Math assessments areStudent: Swetha PolaTeacher: Gayle MihalkoCrossroads North Middle Schoolused to measure the success of our schools on the standards set by theFederal “No Child Left Behind Act.” Students in Grades 4 and 8 are also tested in Science.Success on the “High School Proficiency Assessment” (HSPA) determines whether ornot a student receives a standard New Jersey high school diploma. All New Jersey highschool students must pass the HSPA in either the junior or senior year to qualify for thatdiploma.Additionally, The New Jersey Department of Education now requires that high schoolstudents take the New Jersey Biology Competency Test.

Our District has created other assessments to monitor the academic development ofour students in their fi rst years of schooling. When a student enters Kindergarten, anindividual Literacy Portfolio is started and remains open until the end of second grade.This portfolio (developed in partnership with ETS educators) contains several instrumentsthat measure a child’s literacy development over time. The mathematical progress of ouryoung children in Grades K-2 is measured by assessments developed by our own staff.At other selected grade levels, students are asked to demonstrate their ability to conductand present research fi ndings. Our 3rd - 5th grade students will participate in inter-disciplinaryresearch projects that build students’ research skills. In Grade 6, students completean interdisciplinary research task in which they research a signifi cant contribution ofan ancient society that has impacted our lives today. This task is comprised of researchwith a small group using multiple cited sources of online and print information, an individualwritten essay, and an oral/visual presentation summarizing the students’ researchfindings. Students in grades 7 and 8 complete an interdisciplinary research task relatedto an important event in early U.S. History (Curriculum Cycle B) or a worldwide issue orevent (Curriculum Cycle A) in which they research the event using multiple cited sourcesof online and print information, and report through a written essay the political, economic,and/or social impacts of the chosen event or issue. In Grade 12, students complete aHealth Education Research Task.Each year approximately 90 percent of the SBHS Senior class take the ScholasticAptitude Test (SAT) prior to graduation. The test measures performance in Reading,Writing and Mathematics.District results for the SAT and State tests are shared with the public in the fall. Most ofthe mandated New Jersey Department of Education assessments are administeredduring designated weeks in April, May, and June. Please check the calendar months fordetails.Student Records (FERPA)The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal Law designed toprotect the privacy of a student’s education records. The law applies to all schools, whichreceive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPAgives parents and guardians certain rights with respect to their children’s educationrecords. These rights transfer to the student, or former student, who has reached theage of 18 or is attending any school beyond high school. Students and former studentsto whom the rights have transferred are called eligible students.The South Brunswick Board of Education conforms in all respects to the requirements ofFederal and State law regarding gathering, maintaining and allowing access to studentrecords. The laws are as follows:• Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’seducation records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to providecopies of materials in education records unless, for the reasons such as greatdistance, it is impossible for parents, guardians or eligible students to inspect the“Success is a Choice”records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.• Parents, guardians or eligible students have the right to request that a school correctrecords believed to be misleading or inaccurate. If the school decides not toamend the record, the parent, guardian or eligible student then has the right toa formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend therecord, the parent, guardian or eligible student has the right to place a statementwith a record commenting on the contested information in the record.• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable informationcontained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPAauthorizes disclosure without consent. One such exception, which permits disclosurewithout consent, is disclosure to the following parties: school employeeswho have a need to know; other schools to which a student is transferring;certain government officials in order to carry out lawful functions; appropriateparties in connection with financial aid to a student; organizations conductingcertain studies for the school; accrediting organizations; individuals who haveobtained court orders or subpoenas; or persons who need to know in casesof health or safety emergencies; within a juvenile justice system, pursuant tospecific State law.Parents or guardians have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Educationconcerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements ofFERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family PolicyCompliance Offi ce, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW,Washington, DC 20202-4605.Student ServicesStudent Support TeamsAs required by State code, each school has an Intervention and Referral Team, whichis referred to as the Student Support Team (SST). Teams are comprised of several staffmembers and they serve to collaboratively work with teachers and parents to resolvelearning, behavior and health problems that students are experiencing in the generaleducation program.School personnel typically initiate request for assistance to Student Support Teams.Parents are invited to participate as members of the team as solutions are considered toimprove the student’s success in school. Parents or guardians who are concerned abouttheir child’s success in school may also request that this process be initiated and areencouraged to bring their concerns to the attention of the child’s teacher(s) or counselor.Section 504 Accommodation PlansOccasionally, a student will present with challenges in the classroom or school environmentthat require support beyond what is typically available in the regular educationprogram. When teachers, other staff, parents or guardians have concerns that mightrequire special accommodations but seem not to warrant an evaluation for consideration

“Success is a Choice”Student: Umar KhanTeacher: Suzanne TiedemannBrunswick Acres Schoolof special education services, theconcerns should be directed tothe school Student Support Teamsthrough the child’s teacher or counselor.A school 504 team will convene,review information and data to determineeligibility. An outcome of sucha review may result in a decision, inconjunction with the parent or guardian,to develop a 504 AccommodationPlan which will describe the interferingfactors, what the degree of impact onlearning is and what accommodationsare needed to support the student’ssuccess.Special EducationThe District provides a full continuumof appropriate programs and related services for students between the ages of 3and 21 who have been identifi ed as eligible for special education services. Supervisorsand teachers work together to design and implement appropriate curricula, learningobjectives, instructional strategies and interventions in an effort to best educate studentswith special needs.Some of the options include: consultation services, in-class support, resourcecenter programs and self-contained classes. All programs are taught by highly qualifi edspecial education teachers that provide academic and behavioral support to children inaccordance with their Individualized Education Plan.In addition, the South Brunswick School District offers a variety of Preschool Programsto meet the needs of students with disabilities. There is a Preschool Disabilitiesprogram for children ages three and four that have been evaluated by a ChildStudy Team and found to be eligible for special education and related services. TheDistrict also offers an Integrated Preschool program for students with disabilitieswho require services within a regular education environment. Within this program,a limited number of tuition paying students without disabilities are accepted annually.The District also partners with members of the school community to offer supportto families of students with disabilities through the Special Education Association(SEA), which serves as a resource to answer questions, address concerns and provideinformation. Meetings focus on various topics of mutual concern and interest.Family/Student Crisis ResourcesAnytime a family is in need of assistance during a home or family crisis, the SouthBrunswick/Middlesex County Community offers crisis assistance. Below are the phonenumbers to call, most of which are accessible 24 hours a day.Childrens’s Crisis Intervention Services (CCIS) 8:00 AM-7:00 PM-(732) 235-5705Adult Psychiatric Services (APS) Call when CCIS is closed - (732) 235-5700Suicide Hotline - (1-800)-999-9999; 1-800-784-2433Division of Youth & Family Services - For issues of Abuse and Neglect-(1-877)-652-2873Rape Crisis Center - (l-877)-665-7232Mobile Crisis Response - (1-877)-652-7624TransportationIt is the goal of the District to provide safe and efficient transportation opportunities toall of its students. The District provides transportation to and from school for students inGrades K-5 who live more than one mile from their assigned school. Pupils in Grades 6-8who live more than two miles from their assigned school are transported by bus.Students in Grades 9-12 living more than two and one-half miles from South BrunswickHigh School are transported to school by the District.The District operates a limited late bus schedule (5:15 PM) only at the middle school andhigh school.If students are open enrolled in another school in the District, it is the responsibility ofthe parent or guardian to provide transportation. Special Education students are eligiblefor transportation according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP). For moreinformation, contact (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5101.Key to school abbreviations that are found on the calendar pages.BA - Brunswick Acres Elementary SchoolBC - Brooks Crossing Elementary SchoolCA - Cambridge Elementary SchoolCO - Constable Elementary SchoolDA - Dayton Elementary SchoolDE - Deans Elementary SchoolGB - Greenbrook Elementary SchoolIF - Indian Fields Elementary SchoolMJ - Monmouth Junction Elementary SchoolXRDN - Crossroads North Middle SchoolXRDS - Crossroads South Middle SchoolHS - South Brunswick High SchoolThe artwork that appears in this calendar was chosen during the 2012District Art Gallery.

Brooks Crossing School, K-550 Deans Rhode Hall RoadMonmouth Junction, NJ 08852(732) 821-7478Hours: 8:20 AM - 2:45 PMEarly Closing: 12:50 PMJodi W. Mahoney, PrincipalSusan Rausch, SecretarySusan Kneis, NursePTO - Kim Borredon, Lisa LossoBrunswick Acres School, K-541 Kory DriveKendall Park, NJ 08824(732) 297-6621Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PMEarly Closing: 1:35 PMNeel Desai, PrincipalMartha Cook, SecretarySuzanne Hansen, NursePTO - Shree Patel, Joanne HamzaCambridge School, K-535 Cambridge RoadKendall Park, NJ 08824(732) 297-2941Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PMEarly Closing: 1:35 PMBonnie Capes, PrincipalCarol Kling, SecretaryDawn Guidice, NursePTO - Marianne JonesConstable School, K-529 Constable RoadKendall Park, NJ 08824(732) 297-2488Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PMEarly Closing: 1:35 PMAmanda Rosenberg, PrincipalLinda Malinske, SecretaryPTO - Megan Ianniello, Tracey WijesingheDayton School, K-1310 Georges RoadDayton, NJ 08810(732) 329-1043Hours: 8:15 AM - 2:40 PMEarly Closing: 12:45 PMDenise Touhey, PrincipalPamela Maccaro, SecretaryPatricia Dowgin, NursePTO - Claudia BeauregardDeans School, K-1848 Georges RoadMonmouth Junction, NJ 08852(732) 821-7478Hours: 8:15 AM - 2:40 PMEarly Closing: 12:45 PMDenise Touhey, PrincipalVicki Franken, SecretaryKathleen Brady, NursePTO - Kim Borredon, Lisa Losso“Success is a Choice”Board of Education OfficeMailing Address:P.O. Box 181Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852Physical Address:231 Black Horse Lane(732)297-7800Adult Community SchoolMailing Address:P.O. Box 701Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852Physical Address:231 Black Horse LaneGreenbrook School, K-523 Roberts StreetKendall Park, NJ 08824(732) 297-2480Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PMEarly Closing: 1:35 PMPatricia Holliday, PrincipalGina Holder, SecretarySandryn Taylor-Wysiekierski, NursePTO - Lindsay HobsonSSC - Heather DeLollis-FitzgeraldIndian Fields School, K-5359 Ridge RoadDayton, NJ 08810(732) 329-1043Hours: 8:20 AM - 2:45 PMEarly Closing: 12:50 PMKimberly Maloy-White, PrincipalDonna Helfrey, SecretaryKaren Gordon, NursePTO - Claudia Beauregard732-297-7800, Ext. 3148Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (M-F)Sandra Burghgraef-Fehte, DirectorNancy Kinal, SecretaryClasses take place in various locations throughout the District.Monmouth Junction School, K-5630 Ridge RoadMonmouth Junction, NJ 08852(732) 329-6981Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PMEarly Closing: 1:35 PMMaribeth Edmunds, Ed.D., PrincipalCarol Anderson, SecretaryAnnemarie Kramer, NursePTO - Eric SchlesingerCrossroads North Middle School, 6-8635 Georges RoadMonmouth Junction, NJ 08852(732) 329-4191Hours: 8:10 AM - 3:05 PMEarly Closing: 12:45 PMMark Daniels, PrincipalJune Benjamin, SecretaryBarbara Snepar, NursePTO - Kim Bunch, Jo SteelCrossroads South Middle School, 6-8195 Major RoadMonmouth Junction, NJ 08852(732) 329-4633Hours: 8:15 AM - 3:10 PMEarly Closing: 12:50 PMW. Glenn Famous, PrincipalAlice Rodakis, SecretaryPamela Weis, NursePTO - Kim Bunch, Jo SteelSouth Brunswick High School, 9-12750 Ridge RoadMonmouth Junction, NJ 08852(732) 329-4044Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:25 PMEarly Closing: 12:00 PMPeter Varela, Interim PrincipalMaryann Murphy, SecretaryDonna Sichta, NursePTO - Christine ResnickSSC - Jean Del Piano

State of New Jersey Approved Religious HolidaysSeptember 1September 7September 8September 14September 17September 17-18September 19September 21September 22September 26September 26October 1-7October 8October 8October 16-23October 20October 20October 24 *October 24 **October 26-29November 1November 1November 2November 12November 13November 15November 15November 21November 24November 26November 28November 28December 2December 8December 8December 9-16December 21December 25December 25December 26January 1January 5January 6January 6January 6January 6January 7January 13January 14January 15January 24 *January 26February 2February 2February 10February 12February 13Ecclesiastical Year begins (Orthodox Christian)His Holiness Sakya Trizin’s Birthday (Buddhist)Nativity of Mary (Christian)The Elevation of the Holy Cross (Eastern Orthodox Christian)Feast of Trumpets (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God)Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)Ganesha Chaturthi (Hindu)Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Christian)Mabon (Wicca)Yom Kippur (Jewish)Day of Atonement (Christian, Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God)Sukkot (Jewish); Feast of Tabernacles (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God)Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)Last Great Day (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God)Navaratri (Hindu)Birth of B’ab (Baha’i)Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth (Sikh)Hajj Day (Islam)Duserra (Hindu)Eid al Adha (Islam)All Saints’ Day (Christian)Samhain-Beltane (Wicca)All Souls’ Day (Christian)Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)Diwali [Deepavali] (Hindu, Jain, Sikh)Al Hijra – 1st Muharram (Islam)Advent/Nativity Fast begins (Eastern Orthodox Christian)The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple (Eastern Orthodox Christian)Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom (Sikh)Day of Covenant (Baha’i)Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh)Ascension of ‘Abdu’l Baha (Baha’i)First Sunday of Advent (Christian)Bodhi Day (Buddhist)Immaculate Conception (Christian)Hanukkah (Jewish)Yule (Wicca and Christian)Christmas (Christian)The Nativity of Christ (Eastern Orthodox Christian)Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian)Gantan-sai (Shinto)Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (Sikh)Epiphany (Christian)Feast of Theophany (Eastern Orthodox Christian)Nativity of Christ (Armenian Orthodox)Feast of Epiphany (Eastern Orthodox Christian)Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christian)Maghi (Sikh)Makar Sankranti (Hindu)World Religion Day (Baha’i)Mawlid an Nabi (Islam)Tu B’shvat (Jewish)The Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple (Easter Orthodox Christian)Imbolic-Candlemas (Wicca)Chinese New Year (Confusian, Daoist, Buddhist)Shrove Tuesday (Christian)Ash Wednesday (Christian)“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”18February 14 Nirvana Day (Buddhist)February 15 Vasant Panchami (Hindu)February 24 Purim (Jewish)February 26 - Mar 1 Intercalary Days (Baha’i)March 10Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)March 13L. Ron Hubbard’s Birthday (Church of Scientology)March 18Clean Monday (Eastern Orthodox Christian)March 20Ostara (Wicca)March 21Narouz (Zoroastrian)March 21Naw Ruz (Baha’i)March 25The Annunciation/The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Eastern Orth Christian; Christian)March 25Passover (Philadelphia Church of God)March 26Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian)March 26First Day of Unleavened Bread (Church of God)March 26-April 1 Days of Unleavened Bread (Philadelphia of God)March 26-April 2 Pesach (Jewish)March 27Lord’s Evening Meal (Christian, Jehovah’s Witness)March 28Holy Thursday (Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian)March 28 * Hola Mohalla (Sikh)March 29Good Friday (Christian)March 31Easter (Christian)April 1 Day of Unleavened Bread (Church of God)April 1 Easter Monday (Christian)April 11 Chandramana Yugadi (Hindu)April 14 Baisakhi (Sikh)April 14 *Sourakmana Yugadi (Hindu)April 15 Yom Ha’Azmaut (Jewish)April 20 Rami Navami (Hindu)April 21 First Day of Ridvan (Baha’i)April 23 Lazarus Saturday (Eastern Orthodox Christian)April 24 Palm Sunday (Christian/Eastern Orthodox Christian)April 25 Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu)April 25 The 11th Panchen Lama’s Birthday (Buddhist)April 25 Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)April 25-28 Theravadin New Year (Buddhist)April 27 Holi (Hindu)April 28 Lag B’Omer (Jewish)April 29 Ninth Day of Ridvan (Baha’i)May 1 Beltane (Wicca)May 2 Twelfth Day of Ridvan (Baha’i)May 3 Holy Friday (Eastern Orthodox Christian)May 5 Pascha (Eastern Orthodix Christian)May 15-16Shavuot (Jewish)May 17 Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhist)May 19 Pentecost (Christian, Eastern Ortho Christian, Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God)May 23 Declaration of Bab (Baha’i)May 25 Buddha Day - Visakha Puja (Buddhist)May 29 Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)June 5 Lailat al Miraj (Islam)June 13 Ascension of our Lord (Eastern orthodox Christian)June 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib (Sikh)June 21 Litha (Wicca)June 23 Pentecost (Eastern Orthodox Christian)* Approximate date based on lunar calendar.** Disclaimer: New Jersey Department of Education has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy ofthe dates. The information has been verified through the use of various sources and some dates may vary due to the lunar,Gregorian and Julian calendars.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION SERVICES:SIGN-UP INFORMATIONThe South Brunswick School District uses electronic communication as the primary means of keeping itsfamilies informed of happenings within the schools, the District and the community. By signing-up for theDistrict Email Notification Services, parents will receive up-to-date and need-to-know information about thefollowing:A. Emergency Email Alerts: This Email notification keeps subscribers informed of emergency closings/delayed openings or other instances that may require parents/guardians to take action (i.e. – schoolevacuation due to a power outage).B. K-8 Online Friday Folder: Each K-8 school has an Online Friday Folder which provides parents withelectronic communication from their child’s school that includes School Alerts, important announcementsfrom the principal and a listing of PDF files from community organizations (such as Scouts or Recreation).Documents that require parent signature (field trip permission slips) or those that are sensitive in nature(report cards) will continue to be sent home via hard copy. As your child advances from elementary tomiddle school, please be sure to update your subscription.C. High School Updates by Grade Level: Parents/guardians of high school students who wish to receiveperiodic updates are asked to register their Email address. Additionally, as high school students advance tothe next grade level, parents are asked to update their subscription (e.g. from 9 to 10, etc.) as the Districtdoes not determine/dictate what should be received. This is a privacy/choice issue and one that can bechanged only by the parent or guardian.D. Board Meeting Information: You may subscribe to receive Board Meeting agendas and meeting highlightselectronically.E. Spotlight on Schools: Spotlight on Schools, the District’s newsletter, is an electronic-only distribution.SIGN-UP:Signing up is simple. Follow these instructions:1. Visit www.sbschools.org2. Click on the “Subscribe to our Email Lists” button found in the bottom left of the page.3. Enter the Email address where you would like Email notifications to be sent.4. Select the boxes for the Email notifications you would like to receive.5. Once complete, click update.6. You should receive an Email notification within 24 hours. If you do not receive an Email confirmation,contact Webmaster@sbschools.org. The address may not have been properly entered. (Be sure to indicatethe notification services you would like to receive.)7. If you would like to have Email sent to multiple addresses, you may do so. Repeat the process above.8. If you have previously signed up for the District’s Email notifications and would like to add/delete Emailnotifications, follow Steps 1 and 2 listed above. Be sure to type in the Email address you used to sign up.Click update once you have completed changing your preferences.9. If you have difficulty signing up, Email Webmaster@sbschools.org.Note: If you have previously signed up for the District’s Email notification services, you DO NOT need tosign up again unless you wish to add/delete.

PLEASE CHECK-OFF BELOW AND RETURN TO YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL BY 9/14/12 ONLYIF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET/EMAIL ACCESS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOULDRETURN THIS FORM TO THEIR GRADE LEVEL OFFICE.I was unable to register because I do not have Internet/Email access.Child’s Name _________________________ Grade_________ Parent’s Name___________________________School __________________________ Homeroom Teacher_____________________________________Return to the Main Office by September 14, 2012!“Success is a Choice”

TABLE OF CONTENTSAbsentee Ballot........................................................................6 Health Regulations/Immunizations ........................................ 16About the Community ..............................................................2 Internet Safety ........................................................................ 18Affi rmative Action .....................................................................4 Integrated Pest Management Notification .............................. 14Asbestos Notice .....................................................................14 No Child Left Behind Act ........................................................ 18Attendance...............................................................................4 Nutrition Policy ....................................................................... 20AutoDialer/School Messenger..................................................8 Online Friday Folder/E-mail Alerts ........................................... 8Before and After School Program ..........................................10 Parent-Teacher Conferences/Organizations .......................... 20Board of Education ..................................................................4 Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment .................................. 20Board of Education Members ................................................35 Public Complaints/Inquiries .................................................... 22Budget/Annual Election ...........................................................4 Registration ............................................................................ 22Code of Student Conduct ........................................................6 Religious Holidays ................................................................. 22Communication ........................................................................6 Report Cards .......................................................................... 22Community Education Programs/Services ............................10 Residency .............................................................................. 22District Leadership and Administrative Team .........................35 School-Community Partnerships ........................................... 24District Mission Statement .......................................................2 School Safety and Security .................................................... 26Drug/Alcohol Policy................................................................12 Standardized Testing/Student Assessment ............................ 26Emergency Closings ..............................................................12 Student Services .................................................................... 27Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)................27 Superintendent’s Welcome ...................................................... 2Free and Reduced Lunch Benefits ........................................20 Transportation ........................................................................ 28Gifted and Talented ................................................................14 Viking Television Network ...................................................... 10Graduation Requirements......................................................14 Voter Registration .................................................................... 6Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy ........................16The artwork appearing on the front of this calendar was produced by South Brunswick HighSchool students:Alexis DelfaGopi PatelKelly HorvathKatarina RonquilloGeorge JanovskyEmilia ScuratoThese talented students were under the leadership of the High School’s Art Specialists:Laurie BudhuDianne BelnayNorman ChowKathleen McMillianTwila O’ConnellElizabeth Snediker“Success is a Choice”South Brunswick Board of Educationpublicly acknowledges PNC Bank andMASTERGRAPHX for their supportof the District’s calendar.