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School Policies

Attendance

P.S. 153 is responsible for teaching your child. But we can’t do our job if your child is absent. Learning builds day by day. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Research shows that children who are in school most of the time do better on state tests. Studies also show that kids who are absent more often score lower on state tests.
When a child is late for school, his or her learning can also suffer. A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the year. Children can copy notes or make up work, but they can never get back what’s important: the discussions, the questions, a teacher’s explanations, and active learning. Your child’s success in school depends on having a solid educational foundation, which comes through regular school attendance.
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Here’s How Parents Can Improve Their Child’s School Attendance:

  • Talk with your child about the importance of attending school regularly.

  • Avoid scheduling family trips or doctor appointments during school hours.

  • Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough sleep and exercise.

  • Don’t accept excuses for why your child “must” miss or be late for school.

  • Support school rules regarding absences and lateness.

  • Show your child why education is important. Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.

  • Lead by example. If children see parents taking off from work for no real reason, they may expect to be able to do the same thing. 


The law requires students to be in school for the entire school day. A child may be dismissed to his or her parent only for emergency or medical reasons. Parents are not allowed to sign out a student after trips or classroom celebrations.

Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success!

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Arrival and Dismissal

School begins for all grades at 8:20 AM.

  • Pre-K children meet their teachers at the door on 60th Road nearest to the school yard. Parents do not follow their child to class after the first day of school.

  • Kindergarten students enter the building by the metal ramp on 60th Road. Kindergarten students line up in the Multi-Purpose room where teachers meet the students.

  • Grades 1-6 line up in the school yard. In inclement weather, students will enter the school from the main entrance. Grade 1 will proceed to the new wing cafeteria. Grades 2 and 3 will sit at assigned tables in the original wing cafeteria. Grades 4-6 sit in assigned rows in the auditorium.

  • Late students enter through the main entrance only. Late students will receive a late pass from the security officer.



All students are dismissed at 2:40 PM each day.

  • Teachers dismiss Grades K to 6 students in the school yard. Teachers bring students to the designated class area. Parents do not take students before the class reaches the designated area.

     

Grading Policy

Math and English Language Arts*

  • Participation (20%)

  • Classwork (30%)

  • Homework (20%)

  • Assessment (30%)

* The English Language Arts overall grade is an average of performance in reading, writing, and listening and speaking.


Science

  • Participation (30%)

  • Classwork (35%)

  • Homework (10%)

  • Assessment (25%)
     

Social Studies

  • Participation (25%)

  • Classwork (30%)

  • Homework (15%)

  • Assessment (30%)

 

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Homework

Kindergarten

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 15 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 10 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 30 minutes

 

Grade 1

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 20 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 15 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 40 minutes

 

Grade 2

 

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 20 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 15 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 40 minutes

 

Grade 3

 

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 25 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 15 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 45 minutes

 

Grade 4

 

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 30 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 25 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 60 minutes

 

Grade 5

 

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 30 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 30 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 65 minutes

 

Grade 6

  • Math Facts - 5 minutes

  • Independent Reading - 30 minutes

  • Other Assignments - 40 minutes

  • Total Number of Minutes Every Night - 75 minutes

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Parking

Our school and by the City forbid double-parking during drop-off and pick-up times. The 104th Precinct enforce traffic and parking rules. The police may write a ticket if you are double-parked. Most importantly, double-parking creates a very dangerous situation for our students. Please do not double-park as doing so can put your children's safety in danger.

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