I cannot log in to PowerSchool, please help!

My child's schedule is wrong!

    • Many of our schedules are automatically generated through the PowerSchool portal which can lead to some mistakes. Please note we take time and pride in ensuring all students' schedules are correct prior to the first day of school. If there are mistakes please see below.
    • Please write an email to your child's counselor describing the issue in detail. If a prior discussion with a teacher(s) or other staff was involved in this decision please copy them on the email.

My child has no Period 8 teacher or room listed.

    • Do not worry. There is a reason for this and is explained under our "Schedule" tab.

My child is applying to private school. We are transferring/moving to another district/state/etc.

    • All correspondence should first go through our Counseling Secretary since she leads the transfer of documents to the appropriate place/person.
    • We will need a form from the school your child will be applying to for confidentiality and information release reasons. Your child or you will need to deliver it to our Secretary located in the Counseling Center.
    • All recommendation requests should be given to our Secretary who will delivery them to the appropriate teacher/counselor/administrator and keep track of due dates.
    • We send out applications on time! If you are still uncertain the school received the materials double check with our Secretary, not Counselors.

Bullying

    • We are fortunate enough to have an Anti-bullying Specialist onboard. Ms. Alison Steiner (asteiner@somsd.k12.nj.us), serves two roles; being the specialist and being an amazing Social Worker. Know that you will be listened to, heard, and given information and/or guided in the right direction.
    • We know many emotions come up during these times and that you want your child to be protected, so we first encourage you to look through our Harassment Intimidation Bullying (HIB) FAQs before taking the next step. https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/south-orange/our-school/hib/ , https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/columbia/mdocs-posts/somsd-hib-faq-for-parents/
    • Please note that at any time you or your child can report an instance of bullying to teacher, staff member, aide, counselor, administrator, and they are trained and required by law to take appropriate action.

I think my child needs a 504 plan

    • If your child currently has a 504 plan and you have questions pertaining the plan or are looking to schedule a re-evaluation or follow-up meeting please reach out to the Counseling Secretary. She will correspond with our 504 Coordinator and work with both parties to schedule.
    • If your child does not currently have a 504 plan and you feel may need accommodations there are steps and procedures that we take as a school. Typically a 504 meeting may occur after the following:
        • An injury or physical deficit requires immediate assistance (i.e. breaking an arm could require a 504 that states the student can use chromebook or requires copy of notes since dominant hand is incapable of taking notes.)
        • Have you talked to your child? Has your child discussed their struggles with you? What are you noticing at home?
        • Have you talked to your child's teacher (or vice versa)? Has a team meeting been scheduled to understand what they might be seeing in the classroom?
        • Has the team of teachers implemented an action or behavior plan to start documenting and assessing for a short-term period?
        • Have you had a conversation with your child's physician or therapist?
    • Once strategies have been tested and tried we suggest reaching out. Please see these useful resources that may help answer additional questions: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/district/specialservices/504-2/ , https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues

My child has a 504 or has used accommodations throughout the years and nothing seems to be working, I think they need an IEP.

I reached out to the teacher and have not heard back, what should I do?

    • Staff is allotted 48 hours to return a phone call or message. Understand they are not always near email during the school day and busy preparing for class or in other parent/teacher/staff meetings.
    • Once that 48 hours has passed, either send a reminder or resend the email (sometimes they get sent to spam). Or, feel free to contact the Team Leader who may be able to assist. IF you are trying to contact the Team Leader and still receive no response, either call the front office and leave a message or contact one of the Assistant Principals if it is dire.

I think there is an incorrect grade marked in PowerSchool or on my child's progress report/report card.

    • This is never an emergency because the system allows teachers to re-enter the system. This does not mean a grade change is guaranteed. How you choose to respond to a grade can also have a large impact on a child's learning and emotions.
    • Understand that grading systems and policies can change and people or technology make mistakes. A simple email or message to the teacher indicating that something does not seem right or does not add up is all it takes. Counselor's cannot handle these situations because they do not have access to grade books, we only see the end result of %'s/averages/etc., and every teacher or team has their own policy. We can be a part of the discussion if need be once the teacher or administrator is alerted. If a conversation and resolution cannot be had please reach out to an Assistant Principal.

My child sustained an injury or has been sick, going on vacation, had a death in the family, and will be absent for more than 1 day.

    • Alert the main office for attendance purposes.
    • Alert the Nurse, Mr. Keith Turpin (kturpin@somsd.k12.nj.us), 973-378-2772 x 2013
    • Provide doctor's note pending on what the Nurse may need for return.
    • The Nurse will alert counselor and team of teachers about absence.
    • If child is able to do work Email Team Leader or check Google Classroom for notes, presentations, guides, assignments, etc..
    • If your child misses 1 day, they will receive 1 day upon return to make up any work... so on and so forth
    • For rather serious absences that may involve multiple weeks, please reach out to the Nurse who will provide proper paperwork that will need to be submitted for any type of home instruction to occur - note this can take some time so better to be ahead than behind.