BD06924_                               MAIN DUNSTABLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                                    BS01001_

Christopher M. Gosselin                                               2007-2008 FACT SHEET                                                            Patricia A. Snow

        Principal                                                                                                                                                                         Assistant Principal

 

Welcome to Main Dunstable Elementary School. Our school services grades 1 through 5, along with a partial day Kindergarten experience.  Included are 32 classroom areas, computer lab, Student Support Services area, Library/Media center, Music room, Art room, Guidance office, gymnasium, cafeteria, faculty lounge, kitchen, administrative offices, and health office.  The school opened September 1972, with additions and renovations completed in June 1993. 

 

Below is a brief overview of some of our schools’ policies and procedures.

Ø  Lunch and Breakfast are paid in advance by the week or longer.  Each student is assigned a computer number, which they keep throughout their school years.  The computerized system keeps track of credit available for any lunch or breakfast purchased. Parents may send in money to put on account, so children do not have to bring money each day.  Students who bring their own lunch may purchase milk.  If a student has no lunch, the kitchen will provide an emergency lunch, and the student may bring in money the following day.  Menus for the week are in local newspapers on Thursday nights, and a menu calendar, with both breakfast and lunch selections, is sent home each month with students. 

Ø  Bus Tickets – All students being transported need a bus ticket.  Bus tickets and information will be mailed to each family from our transportation department.  Announcements will be in the newspaper and on our school website (www.nashua.edu/maindunstable/).  Pickup times and locations are on the ticket.  Keep tickets all year.  Students must ride assigned busses.  In emergency situations, requests for permission to ride another bus can only be granted by the Director of Transportation, Mr. Fowler (594-4300 X1146). 

 

Ø  Class Placement/ Teacher – There will be a note of greeting and introduction from your child’s teacher available for pickup in mid August.

 

Ø  Emergency Early Release – In case of emergency early release, announcements will be aired on WSMN – 1590 AM, WMVU – 900 AM or WZID- 95.7 FM.  Be sure to plan emergency arrangements for your children.)

 

Ø  Delayed Openings-  School delays are announced on WSMN-1590, WMVU-900 AM, WZID-95.7 FM and also on Channel 9 TV.  Children should not be dropped off at school prior to 10:30 AM.  (Add 90 minutes to bus arrival time). Morning kindergarten classes are cancelled on these days.

Ø  School Website – Please visit our school website.  This dynamic site will have announcements and event calendars throughout the year.

            www.nashua.edu/maindunstable/

 

Ø  Arrivals and Dismissals – For all normal school days, children should not be dropped off at school prior to 8:45 AM.   There is no supervision prior to this time.  Class begins at 9:00 AM.  All students who are tardy MUST CHECK IN AT THE OFFICE WITH A PARENT and receive an admit slip.  Parents discharging or picking up children at opening and dismissal times may not drive cars into the school bus loop.   If your child normally attends the Before or After School Program but is not going to attend for a day, please call the Adult Learning Center direct. (882-9080)

 

Ø  At Dismissal Time – 3:25 PM – Pickups (students being picked up by parents) will be dismissed first followed by busses.  Walkers will be dismissed at approximately 3:45 PM and bike riders after the busses.  If you need to pick your child up at the end of school, please send a note in to your child’s teacher to have them dismissed with pickups.  If you must call to have them dismissed with pickups, due to a last minute appointment, please do so before 2:25 PM.  Due to the hectic atmosphere at the end of the day, we will not be dismissing students after 3:00 PM without prior notice.  You will need to wait until 3:25 PM and have them called with pickups. Unless it is an emergency, please do not call the office to leave a message for your child or come in and have your child called out of class, as this is very disruptive to the class and to the child. 

Ø  Visitors to Our School:  ALL ARE REQUIRED TO CHECK IN AT THE MAIN OFFICE.   Parents are not allowed to go to their child’s classroom without prior approval from the principal and teacher.  You will then need to sign in and get a Visitor’s Badge.  Visitors are welcome but may not interfere with class instructional time.

Ø  White Emergency Cards – The white emergency cards (3 per family), sent home with each child are very important.  If you change jobs or telephone numbers, etc., during the year, please let us know.

Ø  Medication – If your child needs to take a prescription medication in school, state law requires a note from the doctor before the nurse can dispense any medication.  A form must also be signed by you indicating recommended dosage. Please do not send any medication in with your child for them to take on their own.  Please call our school nurse if you have any questions.

Ø  Immunization – All children must be fully immunized.  Please notify the nurse if immunization records need to be updated.  Any child entering kindergarten or first grade must be fully immunized and have a physical before entering school.  This is a state law – any child not in compliance will be excluded from school. 

Ø  Absenteeism – If your child is going to be absent, please call the office (594-4400) any time between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM and leave a message on the answering machine.  If your child is going to be out sick for more than a day, you may request homework to be sent home.  Any child that has been absent or tardy must bring a note upon returning to school.  The law requires that all students attend school for 180 days a year and the child’s parents are responsible for having them in school.  If the school is not notified, and we are unable to reach someone, the Attendance Officer, Brian Soraghan will be notified. 

Ø  Recess – All children will go out to recess, weather and conditions permitting, unless they have a note signed by a doctor.  Please dress your child appropriately for the weather.  For recess, teachers are on duty outside.  During lunch in the cafeteria and during lunch recess, monitors are on duty to supervise the children. Parents are requested to send children to school with a nutritious snack every day.  Children require energy to learn effectively.

Ø  Your child’s belongings - All clothing, boots, lunch boxes, backpacks, personal items, etc. should be marked with the child’s name or initials.  If your child loses something, please have them check lost and found (back of the cafeteria), or you may come in and look. Lost and found items are usually put on display in the lobby at various times during the year. 

Ø  Before/After School Program – Is sponsored and directed by the Adult Learning Ctr. (882-9080) at Main Dunstable.  Please call to arrange this service for your child.

 

All visitors are welcome and encouraged to stop in.  If there are any questions, please

call our main office at 603-594-4400.