Parents
Handbook
A WORD TO PARENTS
We are pleased to present to you this handbook of compiled
notes of our school's policies and expectations. Families
and schools have the mutual responsibility for children's
learning, therefore, an open communication between home and
school is essential.
When parents are involved in the children's education at
home, and keep close contact with the school by working
together and exchanging information then expectations meet
and students learn and benefit more. Together we can
reinforce positive self-esteem that is essential to academic
and personal growth.
HMADS is a special place where children receive a bilingual
education to prepare them to become productive members of
the Armenian and American communities. We give our students
an understanding of their heritage and culture and a sense
of belonging to the Armenian and American communities.
We encourage our parents to be active and cooperative
partners in keeping our shared goals alive. By working
together we will ensure the smooth functioning of the
educational process and the success of our mission.
Original copy compiled and written by: Zarminé Boghosian
-1987-2001
Last update: by present Principal and Education
Committee- 2009
Overview
Holy Martyrs
Armenian Day School is fully accredited by the New York
State Department of Education. From its modest nursery
beginning of eight students in 1967, the school has become
an elementary school of approximately one hundred students
in nursery to sixth.
The HMADS Board, Principal, Mrs. Zarminé Boghosian and a
staff of fifteen strive to fulfill the challenge to provide
proper curriculum opportunities and to teach traditional
values within small classes.
The basic curriculum includes language arts, math, science,
social studies, health, art, music, physical education and
computer technology through which academic excellence,
intellectual stimulation and creative skills are developed.
The Armenian Studies program provides knowledge and
appreciation of our Armenian language and culture. A sense
of well-being is promoted through learning about who we are
and setting goals for the future. The students participate
in a variety of extracurricular activities, which expand the
school borders to community experiences.
We are proud of our alumni many of whom have been honored by
their high schools and have received scholarships to
colleges and universities. Our earliest graduates have
settled into careers. It has been exciting to see the
beginning stages of an Alumni Association.
As an independent education institution, HMADS must
continually seek methods outside tuition to enhance its
fiscal stability. The school is partially supported by
various philanthropic organizations and individual
benefactors. An endowment fund has been established to
encourage contributions from the community. In addition,
Friends of HMADS has ongoing fundraising programs.
As we begin a new school year, we are pleased to provide you
with this manual containing essential information about our
rules, policies and expectations. Parents are kindly
requested to carefully read and explain these rules and
regulations to their children. The school administration
reserves the right to make necessary changes in the school
rules at any time.
Philosophy And Mission
The Holy Martyrs
Armenian Day School provides an educational environment in
which students are educated through a bilingual curriculum
to become responsible individuals, confident in their
languages, appreciative of their cultures and well-prepared
as members of American society.
The HMADS believes in the uniqueness of each individual.
Thus, the educational effort focuses on the process of
"learning to learn" by fostering the love of learning.
The school believes in developing the whole person and
therefore, encouraging its students to develop as
well-rounded individuals with a wide variety of
extracurricular interests and achievements that help them
exercise leadership, cooperation, and caring.
The students of this school also acquire a strong sense of
Armenian ancestry and traditional values. These values
permeate their lives not only while they are at this school
but also long after they have left it.
The Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School does not in any way,
manner or form discriminate as to race, color, creed, or
national origin of any individual.
School Information
The school includes
Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and grades 1 through
6. Children entering Pre-K may be placed in one of two
groups:
Nursery Group
- must be at least 3 years and toilet trained by September
of the year entering.
Pre-K-Group
- must be 4 years old by December of the year entering.
Kindergarten
- must be 5 years old by December of the year entering.
However, an assessment will be necessary for the admission
of a child into our program.
The school day
for students is 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All students are
expected to be in their classrooms by 8: 30 a.m.
Dismissal
Dismissal for
Nursery-Pre-K only is 3:15 p.m.
All other
children (grades K-6) are to be met by their parents
promptly at 3:30 p.m. and are to leave school right away
except for after-school programs or emergencies.
A written note is a must to inform the teacher and
the office for a change of arrangements to pick up the
students. The school office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Monday through Friday. The office has an answering
device to receive your calls at other hours.
Registration
Registration for
the new school year begins in May of the previous school
year. Students who have not registered by the end of the
school year will have to register during the last week of
August prior to the first day of school in September.
The State of New
York regulations require that all children entering school
for the first time must have been immunized against polio,
diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella,
varicella, hib, hepatitis B, pneumococcal and tested for
tuberculosis before the first day of school.
Parents must
submit proof of the child's immunization record and a report
of complete physical examination signed by a physician. They
must also provide a copy of their child's birth certificate.
Non-refundable registration fee is due with registration
application.
Tuition Payment Schedule
Tuition for Nursery is higher than the tuition for the
grades K through grade 6. Tuition is subject to a change
annually. Refer to a tuition schedule at the registration.
There are three options for making tuition payments:
·
Advance payment - a discount is offered if
paid by the first day of school year.
·
3 payments due on the first day of
Sept.-Dec.-March.
·
9 payments due on first day of each month from
Sept. - May.
Please note: If tuition
payments are not up to date by the time report cards are to
be issued, parent-teacher conferences will be postponed and
report cards will be withheld.
Tuition Assistance
A limited amount
of funds is available for financial aid. Interested parents
may obtain an application for Financial Aid from the
Principal by a written request. Applications should
be completed and returned by May 31 for consideration by the
Principal and selected committee of the Board of Trustees.
A copy of the parents' income tax return should
accompany any request for financial aid. All
requests are strictly confidential and known only to a
committee of three people.
Transcripts
Students
entering HMADS from other schools: Students are asked to
bring in their report cards. The school office follows up by
getting in touch directly with the previous school for
cumulative files.
HMADS students entering other schools: HMADS office
sends copies of transcripts of a student's grades and test
results by mail directly to the new school upon a written
request from the school office.
School Closings – Snow days
A round robin system informs both faculty and parents of
school closings. Class lists are used for this relay of
information. Radio reports aired on 1010 AM will keep you
updated on conditions.
Illness and Medication
Policy
If a student becomes sick at school, parents will be notified and
asked to pick up their child. It is essential that the
school office have alternate emergency phone numbers,
including the parents' work numbers as well as cell phone
numbers. It is the parents' responsibility to keep this
information current.
Parents are urged to keep their children home from school
when they exhibit any of the following: chills, coughing,
earache, sore throat, headache, enlarged glands, fever, rash
or skin eruptions, vomiting, red or discharging eyes, head
lice.
If a child
develops a communicable disease other than the common cold,
the school should be notified immediately. Children
returning to school after contracting such a disease must
present to the office a physician's note of clearance before
being admitted back to school.
School personnel are not permitted by law to dispense
medication.
The following policy will be followed for students taking
medications:
·
The parent must submit a written
request to the school authorities for medication to be
taken at school.
·
A written request from the family physician
must be included which indicates the frequency and dosage of
a prescribed medication.
·
The medication must be brought to school by a
responsible adult in a labeled bottle and must include the
name of the medication, the dosage, and the frequency of the
dosage.
Students
will not be allowed to take any medication if the above
procedure has not been followed.
Annual Vision and Audio
Screening
An annual vision
and audio screening is administered by one of the school's
doctors. In the event of a special concern a letter by the
physician will be sent to the parent to be followed up by
the child's pediatrician.
School's
Medical Staff:
Dr. Florence
Khoriaty, Dr. Lynn Cetin, Dr.Louis Najarian
Communications
The school will
send home notes on various occasions regarding special
programs or announcements. Notes are sent home with each
student via a large clear envelope designed solely for the
purpose of home-school communication. Parents are
responsible for checking children's school bags daily. Any
correspondence requiring a response is to be completed and
returned to school by the due date.
Messages
The office will
make every effort to deliver emergency
messages to students or teachers. All other messages will be
placed in the teachers' mailboxes.
Under no circumstances will a class be
disturbed to deliver routine messages to students or
teachers.
Parents are welcome to visit the
school and encouraged to attend school programs and holiday
celebrations. All visitors must check in at the school
office.
Parents who wish to visit a classroom
must make an appointment by calling the office at least one
day in advance.
Parents must refrain from engaging
teachers in conversation in the halls or during class. Our
staff is tightly scheduled and an unscheduled visit or
conference will interfere with their day's program.
Parents who bring their children's lunch or gym clothes to
school must leave them at the office.
The school secretary is well qualified to handle the
communications. She will give the messages at the
appropriate time.
Field Trips
Field trips
are arranged at the discretion of the homeroom and subject
area teachers as they pertain to topics studied in class.
They are considered an extension of learning and a necessary
enrichment to the curriculum. As such, full class
participation is encouraged. Parents will receive sufficient
notice to grant permission for their child(ren) to
participate.
Homework
Homework is
assigned to elementary school students to reinforce skills
or concepts taught during the day. A regular study time
should be set aside for elementary school students daily to
read independently and/or complete assigned homework. Good
work habits begin in early years.
Guide your
children in doing their homework but do not do it for
them. The teacher needs to know when the children need
review and special help. Homework should take a "reasonable"
amount of time. If too much time is spent on assignments,
speak to the teacher about possible problems.
Homework is to
be complete, neat, and ready on the due date. Incomplete
assignments are to be done during recess. Continuous
problems will be brought to the attention of the parents.
Conference and Report
Cards
Curriculum Night:
This important evening in September provides parents with
the opportunity to meet with the teachers and to hear about
our school's curriculum and program. Please see the calendar
for dates.
Parent-Teacher
Conferences: These have been scheduled in November and
March (as per calendar). School is dismissed at 12:00 noon
on conference days and children must leave school promptly.
Both afternoon and evening appointments are available to
accommodate parents’ work schedules.
Report Cards:
Report cards will be given to parents at the parent-teacher
conferences in November & March and will be sent home on the
last day of school year. Please review report cards with
your children, sign and return them promptly. Please
note that report cards will not be issued if tuition
payments are not up to date.
Lunch - Nutrition
Children are to bring lunch from home daily,
except on Hot Lunch days (for participating students). Hot
lunch is provided by volunteer parents several times a year
at a nominal charge. In addition, children enjoy Pizza
Fridays every week. Pizza Payment for the entire school year
is due in September. Hot lunch payments are to be made as
indicated on the flyers.
Please follow
the monthly calendar and flyers sent home with your child
for details.
Lunches must be
packed in clean lunch-boxes or durable bags and should
include: napkins, and an ice pack. Beverages are to be in
non-breakable containers. All such items must be clearly
marked with the child's name.
Student lunches
are expected to be nutritious, well balanced, appropriately
portioned meals and should include food and drink the child
likes. Candy, chocolate, chips, soda, and gum are not
acceptable lunch items.
In the
Lunchroom
An orderly
atmosphere in the lunchroom is absolutely necessary so that
students may eat in a clean and safe setting.
Students are to
eat politely, have a quiet conversation in their designated
grade level area and maintain a reasonable noise level. They
are to remain seated until finished eating. A teacher on
duty will call them for a line up for recess. Running
is not permitted in the lunch room.
Trash is to be
placed in trash-cans. The eating area is to be left clean
and neat. Students must follow the lunch attendants’
directions.
Failure to
follow these simple rules will result in a student eating
his/her lunch under careful supervision in another
setting and/or having no recess.
Policy of
the Playground and Other Parts of the School Building
Students are to
follow school rules for safety, kindness, and respect.
Kicking, pushing or fighting will not
be tolerated.
Playground
equipment is to be used appropriately.
Students will be
sent directly to the Principal’s office for fighting or
other totally inappropriate behavior. Parents will be
notified. Refer to Discipline Policies (page 14)
for details.
Play-ground is off limits after school hours and on
weekends.
Suggestions for Home
Routines
Prepare for School the
Night Before
In order to
start each day right, school preparation such as gathering
of books, sharpened pencils, collecting money, notices, and
choosing clothes should be taken care of the night before.
This way, mornings can be calm and children will be ready on
time. This is a wonderful way to start each day.
Reading
Good reading
habits begin in the early years and are one of the most
important tools in an individual's life. Reading to your
child is as necessary as having him read to you. Twenty
minutes a night is the minimum time. Take your child to the
local library. The librarian can assist you in selecting
books.
Sleep
Just like an adult, a child needs a good restful sleep
in order to function well. These are important learning
years. Children must be awake to be alert. Bedtime should be
between 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. according to age.
Television
Choose
television programs with discretion and not for
baby-sitting. We have already "lost" a generation to the
disturbing influences of the wasteland of television. Let us
not allow this to happen to our children.
The best policy
is no television during school nights except for
specials. On weekends select suitable programs with your
children. If at all possible, watch and discuss with your
child. If the children are in bed on time, most unsuitable
programs will not be seen.
Birthdays
·
For Nursery children you are allowed to
bring – Cupcakes & juice –
Please make sure you clear the day and possible allergies
with the Nursery Teacher.
·
Kindergarten Birthdays ONLY on
Fridays – check with the Kindergarten Teacher
for any possible allergies.
·
Grades 1 – 6 NO Birthday parties in the
classrooms any day of the week
But students are allowed to have a NO UNIFORM DAY,
and Summer born students
can pick a NO UNIFORM DAY in June.
Dress Code
Students are
expected to be properly groomed and neatly dressed in
complete uniform.
The School Uniform
For Boys K
through 6: white shirt, gray pants, plaid
tie, navy cardigan sweater (V Neck), gray or black socks and
black shoes.
For Girls
K through 6: white "Peter Pan" collar shirt,
plaid jumper and tie, navy cardigan sweater, white socks
(navy blue panty hose in winter days), and black shoes. The
gray uniform slacks are an option on cold winter days.
Uniform
for special occasions and outings:
Boys and girls will be asked to wear long-sleeved
shirt/blouses, white panty hose and black shoes. For more
uniform information you may reach Marlou Garments at
1-800-669-1512.
This dress code
is not a requirement for nursery children.
Gym Uniforms:
gray sweat-pant and sweat shirts, red T-shirt (with
silk-screened school's logo on all three pieces) are
available by the PTO.
Forms for gym
uniforms may be obtained by calling the school office and
writing the check payable to: HMADS/PTO to the amount
indicated on the form. Adult sizes are available for
interested parents.
N - through 6 grade students must wear full gym uniforms
and sneakers on gym days.
Students are not
to wear make-up, cologne, nail polish, dangling earrings
and/or jewelry, except for simple watches. Students' hair
should be neatly groomed and conservative in appearance.
Academics
Report Cards are
means of informing you of how your child is doing in school.
These reports contain information on grades, attitude,
lateness, and attendance.
Performance Rating:
Nursery &
Kindergarten
E
Excellent
Progress S
Satisfactory Progress
I
Improving
T To be evaluated at a later time
N/I Needs Improvement
Grades:
First, Second & Third
Grades 4 -6
ONLY
E –
Excellent
(90-100)
A+ 96 -100 Excellent
G – Good
(80-89)
A 90 – 95 Honor Roll
S –
Satisfactory (70-79)
B
80 – 89 Good
NI- Needs
Improvement
(66-69) C
70 – 79 Average
U-
Unsatisfactory
D 65 – 69 Below Average
F- Failing (below
65)
F- Failing (below 65)
Testing
The school
administers the New York State "standardized tests".
The dates are designated by the State Education Department,
and are indicated on the annual and monthly calendars.
The New
York State tests include:
Grade
5 Social
Studies
Grades 3, 4, 5,
and 6 English/ Language Arts
Grades 3, 4, 5,
and 6 Mathematics
Grade
4
Science
Stanford
Achievement Test (SAT): Administered to students in the
fall or Spring.
The SAT measures
achievement in reading, spelling, language and mathematics.
As one of many assessment tools, the results on these tests
may help the teachers identify areas of strengths and
weaknesses but do not determine a child's promotion to the
next academic level.
Special Awards
Principal's
List
An average of 95 - 100 for grades 4, 5, 6.
Students are recognized for their achievements in the
following areas:
Highest in subject.
Most improved in a given
subject or subjects.
Perfect
Attendance and Citizenship Award
To motivate attendance and good citizenship, students are
encouraged by seeing their names listed on the bulletin
board for perfect attendance. A certificate is awarded at
the end of the school year.
Honor Roll
- An average of 90 - 94 for grades 4, 5, 6.
President's
Award - Gold
Established by
the US Department of Education, this award recognizes and
honors outstanding educational excellence. The certificate
for this award is gold and white. To be eligible for this
award students are to earn a grade point average of 95 or
above on a 100-point scale.
President's
Award – Silver-
The purpose of
this award is to recognize students who show outstanding
educational achievement but they do not meet the criteria
for the President's Award for Educational Excellence.
The
Comptroller of the City of New York Award
New York
State Attorney General's Award
Triple "C" Award - for Character, Courage & Commitment
Congressional
Recognition Award - For Service, Dedication and
Citizenship- Certificate of Special Congressional
Recognition award is given to a graduating student who
resides in the Fifth Congressional District and represents
the qualities of service, dedication, and citizenship
exemplified by the educational program.
Edward Peters
Science Award
Sara Dadourian Citizenship Award
Edward Peters
Recognition Award
Science Invention Center
Edward Peters Recognition Award
For Excellence in Science
Niver Adarian
Mathematics Award
For Excellence in Mathematics
Celia Handigian English Award
For Excellence in Creative Writing
Sandra
Miskjian Scholarship Award
For Academics & Citizenship
Mary Haroutunian Garo and Gabriel Haroutunian Award
For Excellence in Social Studies
Mary
Selvinazian Shnorhali Award
For Love of Music, Service and Personal Commitment to Holy
Martyrs Church
Physical Fitness Award
Armenian Studies Awards
Setrag
Baghdoyan Armenian Award
Highest performance in Armenian Studies for the graduating
class. Sponsored by Mrs. Hasmig Hovnanian in memory of her
father.
Dr. Stephen
Svajian Armenian History Award
The winner of this award is the 4, 5 or 6 grade student who
receives the highest grade in the Armenian History Contest
held at HMADS. Sponsored by the family of the late
Dr. Pergruhi
Svajian in Memory of her historian husband.
Missak
Vayejian Armenian Spelling Bee Award
The winner of this award is the 4th, 5th, or 6th grade
student who receives the highest grade in the Armenian
Spelling Bee Contest held at HMADS . This award is sponsored
by Mrs. Sonig Vayejian-Kradjian in memory of her father.
Knights of
Vartan Armenian Scholar Award - Guidelines for this
award for 6th grade:
1. Speak, read and write Armenian.
2. Have Armenian parents (at least one parent).
3. Participate in extracurricular activities - church,
theatrical group, scouts, organized sports, other Armenian
activity groups.
4. Show above average interest in Armenian arts and culture.
5. Participate in school organized outings and function.
The winner need not necessarily be the best student in
academics but the most "Armenian".
Onnik Babikian Award - For Excellence in Armenian
Conversation
Discipline and Code of
Conduct
Family is the
first and most important influence on a child’s character.
The school reinforces the positive character values (work
ethic, respect, responsibility, honesty, etc..) being taught
at home.
Students should
behave appropriately during the school day and school
sponsored events. Students should increasingly become more
responsible for themselves. The following code of conduct is
an excellent guide for establishing positive character
values and behavior.
HMADS CODE OF CONDUCT
1.
Treat others the way you want to be treated
2.
Respect school property and property of the others
3.
Promote peace: use words to solve disagreements
4.
Be honest in actions and words
5.
Listen when someone else is speaking
6.
Act respectfully and make good choices
7.
Care about your learning and the learning of others
8.
Walk quietly and safely in our school
9.
Honor our school rules.
Policies
The Holy Martyrs
Armenian Day School considers appropriate discipline an
opportunity to train a child in socially desirable behavior
patterns.
Discipline in Pre-school is administered
through love and guidance, as an extension of the home.
Children learn rules of behavior and have an opportunity to
apply them as they relate to other children.
Discipline in Grades K through 6 is
administered by use of personal disciplinary techniques. In
extreme cases of unruly behavior, the following measures may
be taken
1. Refer the case to the Principal.
2. Send a letter to the parent.
3. Hold a conference with the participation of the
teacher, the principal, the parent, and/or the student.
4. Follow up communication with parents
5. No recess based on severity of the situation
6. Suspend the student temporarily.
If no other solution is possible, dismissal from school
would be required.
BUILDING & SCHOOL RULES
The following
building rules are for the safety of all the children.
* Students are expected to be respectful of the school
building, private property, and each other. A successful
school community is based upon trust, respect, and
responsibility by all members. Students are NOT
allowed to leave the building. The school is legally
responsible for students during school hours.
·
Students staying in school during and after
regular hours must be in a class or at an activity in the
presence of a faculty member. Safety is the primary concern
and no student is allowed to be in an empty building or
classroom late and must report to the office for a late
pass.
·
Food and drink are allowed ONLY in the
lunchroom or with special arrangements by the homeroom
teacher.
·
Students are not permitted to chew gum
anywhere in the school building.
·
Walkmans, CD players, toys, baseball cards,
comics or any kind of magazines –unless otherwise asked by
the teacher- Are Not Allowed
·
The school strongly discourages students from
bringing money, (except for trips) jewelry or other
valuables to school.
·
Students may not use the telephones located in
office, a payphone for student and teacher use is located on
the first floor near the Nursery-Hye-Bardez room .
·
The HMADS Office is unable to take and deliver
messages to students and teachers unless there is an urgent
or immediate need.
·
Students must respect the property of entire
Holy Martyrs building and the neighboring houses and may not
sit upon their stoops or walk over their front and back
yards.
·
Students must remember that they are
representing themselves, their family and their school.
SCHOOL RULES &
EXPECTATIONS OF CONDUCT
Students are expected to act in a courteous and
respectful manner, showing consideration for each other,
school and personal property, and the common rules of this
community. The Honor Code provides a framework for students
to understand the expectations for their personal behavior
and a system for review of any breaches of trust.
The following offenses are considered
violations of major school rules:
· Using foul
language, Lying, Cheating
· Plagiarism - the
appropriation of the words and/or the ideas of another as
one's own,
· Stealing,
Vandalism, Truancy, Repeated violation of minor school rules
The penalty for violation of a major school rule may be
probation, suspension, or expulsion. The decision as to the
penalty will be made by the School Board after a
principal/teacher consultation. Violation of minor school
rules will result in a student being placed on work
detention by a faculty member or having his/her privileges
revoked for a period of time.
The following offenses are considered minor school
rules and are grounds for detention or the loss of
privileges:
· Repeated
lateness to school or to class
· Abuse of
school, community, or personal property
· Discourteous
behavior or insubordination
· Violation of
the uniform requirement
· Chewing gum
· Taking food and
drinks to an area outside of the lunchroom.
Computer
Class Rules
The Honor Code, School Rules, and Expectations of Conduct
described above apply with equal force to the use of the
computer network.
When using the network and E-Mail system, students must
follow these guidelines:
1. Respect the privacy of all members of the community.
2. Do not share your password.
3. Stealing a password(s) or otherwise violating the
trust of the community will be considered a major violation
of school rules.
4. If you suspect that your password has been
compromised, immediately contact the computer teacher,
teacher or the principal to receive a new password.
LATENESSES,
ABSENCES, AND APPOINTMENTS
· Students
are expected to be in school by 8:30am and the bell for the
morning prayer is at 8:45am. If a student arrives late,
he/she must obtain a late pass at the office and go directly
to class. Lateness more than 3 times in a month will be
recorded in the child’s permanent file.
· Six
lateness will be counted as an unexcused absence
on student’s record. If a student is absent for twenty
days during one semester, the faculty will vote to
determine if he/she will receive credit for that semester's
courses.
· If a student is
absent or late for any reason, HIS/HER PARENT OR
GUARDIAN must call the School Office or leave a
message on the school’s answering device BY 8:30 A.M.
(718-225-4826). This is a safety precaution and will
facilitate the school's effort to keep accurate attendance
records.
· It is understood
that it is the responsibility of the student/parent to keep
abreast of his/her work, as best they can, during the
absence. (Ask for homework, test schedule, etc.)
· Tests missed
because of an excused absence will be rescheduled within a
week of a student's return to school.
· If a student is
absent on the day of a test only, and not on previous days,
he/she will be expected to take the test on the day student
returns to school.
· If a student is
absent, he/she may not participate in any after-school
extracurricular activities that day.
· Permission to
be absent for reasons other than illness, including
religious holidays and Middle School visits, must be
requested in advance in a note from a parent to the
Principal who will bring to the teacher’s attention. This
will allow the student and his/her teachers time to discuss
work that will be missed and to get assignments ahead, for
which he/she will be responsible.
· Absences on
days before and after vacations are not permitted or excused.
Such absences are considered a serious infraction of school
rules and are dealt with accordingly.
· Students are
expected to make every effort to schedule doctor's
appointments, etc. after school hours.
Parent
Participation
Our school promotes parental involvement through the
Parent Teacher Organization, which works closely with the
School Board and The HMADS Friends committee to organize
social events and raise funds for the school. The spirit of
cooperation and respect among parents, the administration,
and the faculty is a key factor in the life of the school.
Participation in the PTO (Parent-Teacher
Organization) is an excellent way to become acquainted with
HMADS and other parents within the community. Informed
parents can be the best ambassadors for the school.
The Objectives of the PTO
1.
To promote the welfare of children and youth in home,
school, church and community.
2.
To bring the home and the school relation closer to
each other, so that parents and teachers may cooperate
intelligently in the education of children and youth.
3.
To involve the members in committees of the PTO
body.
The PTO consists of various committees which meet
frequently as needed such as:
Class Mothers:
At the beginning of each school year, Class Mothers are
selected by the school Principal to represent each class in
the school. The Principal appoints a "Class Mother
Coordinator" who serves as liaison between the Principal,
the School Staff, and the Class Mothers. The major
responsibility of a Class Mother is to build friendly
relations with parents; work with school staff to bring
parents into closer contact with the school; and assist in
promoting attendance of school functions and programs.
Hot Lunch/Pizza Friday
Committees: Serve lunch for all children on
designated days. Volunteer parents are encouraged to help.
Please follow the monthly calendar for the dates.
Hospitality Committee:
Consists of a group of parents who are available to
help the school during various functions such as Curriculum
Night, class mothers meetings and when the school welcomes
special guests.
Public Relation
Committee: Advertises PTO and school functions within
the school community at large. The PR is extremely
important for the well being of our fine educational
institution.
Gym Uniforms:
Ordering, inventory, and, collecting money are sponsored by
the PTO and carried out by the Class Mother Coordinator.
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