ARRIVAL / DISMISSAL   

2023-2024 Arrival and Dismissal Procedure for Hooper Avenue Elementary School

Below you will find the arrival and dismissal procedures for this upcoming school year:

A.M. OPENING OF SCHOOL

1. Walking Students - All walking students will enter the school building, at approximately 8:25 a.m., at "C" Cafeteria (Door 18). When the 8:35 a.m. bell sounds, students will be dismissed and directed to go to their respective classrooms.

2. Students Arriving By Vehicle - If children are being driven to school, they should not be arriving before 8:25 a.m.  Children should only be discharged in the front of the building and from the passenger side of the vehicle along the sidewalk area and proceed to the appropriate "C" Cafeteria.  Please drive up to the end of the painted yellow curb before discharging your child, curbside only. Please DO NOT park and walk your child to the door.

3. After students are safely discharged to the sidewalk, all cars should depart the area expeditiously to allow cars in back of them to avail themselves of access to the sidewalks and allow for a more even flow of traffic. Teachers will be on duty starting at 8:25 A.M.

At approximately 8:25 the roadway between the Hoop and Intermediate East will be closed to all traffic except for school buses arriving with children. All parents dropping off students after 8:35 will have to exit the campus via Hooper Avenue and not Indian Hill Road. All students arriving after 8:40 a.m. must report to the Main Office to receive a late pass.

P.M. CLOSING OF SCHOOL

1. Walking Students - At dismissal time, all walking students will proceed directly to the back of the building, where they will be directed by staff to follow the walking path. 

2. Students Departing By Vehicle - Parents/Adults picking up students are asked to drive around the Intermediate East side of the building and park on the playground area parallel to the Hoop. Students will follow the dismissal procedures listed above (walking students) to enter their parent's car parked in the ferry lane. Please greet your child and expeditiously enter your vehicle for a timely exit. After all busing students have been dismissed and all buses have exited the campus, administration will dismiss the vehicles. No vehicle will be dismissed by administration until all children and parents are safely in their vehicles.

3. Parents/Adults wishing to pick up a student prior to 2:50 p.m. must report to the Main Office by 2:30 to call for and sign out the student.  Please allow your child every opportunity to conclude their school day with all of the other children and be dismissed with the walkers and/or students departing by vehicle.

As all of our families know, children can only succeed when they are present in school.  When any scholar misses eighteen or more school days per year, or about two days every month, the student is considered to be chronically absent.  Research states that scholars who are considered to be chronically absent, perform significantly lower on state reading and math exams.  According to the NJ Department of Education, scholars with good attendance score 11 points higher on reading tests and 13 points higher on math tests.                                                                          

The staff of  Hooper Ave Elementary School understand that there are times when scholars need to be absent from school, and when ill, scholars must stay home.  However, it is important that every effort be made for our children to attend school on a daily basis.  

An automated call will be made to your primary contact number to notify you that your child is absent from school. If illness or other emergency prevents a scholar from attending school, please present a written excuse on the day of return. An excuse should state the date(s) absent, the reason for the absence, and the parent or guardian's signature. The state of New Jersey recognizes religious holidays and “Bring Your Child to Work Day” as excused absences. Any other absence will be recorded as unexcused. However, medical and parent/guardian notes will be documented on the child’s attendance record.

If you anticipate your child being absent for more than three days, or if the illness is of a contagious nature, the nurse's office should be notified immediately.

Depending on the amount of time your child will be absent, you may want to make arrangements with the classroom teacher to obtain schoolwork.  If you should request daily assignments, please notify the school before 11:00 A.M. Work will be available for pick-up at the end of the school day. We ask that you call the Main Office to make sure the missed work is available for pick up prior to your arrival to our school. Whether work is requested during absence or assigned upon the child's return, your child is responsible for making up the missed work.

Along with regular attendance, it is expected that every child be prepared to arrive at school on time.  If students are late for any reason, the parent must accompany the student to the Main Office upon arrival.  The child's tardiness will be noted, and a pass issued to be presented to the classroom teacher.

The first school bell will ring at 8:35 A.M. and all children should be in the classroom by 8:40 A.M.

10:50-11:30- Grade 3 and Grade 5

11:10- 11:50- Grade 2 and Grade 4

11:30-12:10- Grade 3 and Grade 5

11:50-12:30- Grade 2 and Grade 4

12:10- 12:50- Grade 1

12:30-1:10- Kindergarten

All students are scheduled for a 40-minute lunch and recess period daily. All families must fill out a federal lunch application either on www.schoolcafe.com or by paper application. Hooper Avenue Elementary School has in place a computerized lunch payment program for any a la carte purchases. Every child has a photo ID card that is used when payment is rendered. Parents may send cash into school with their child to be added to the lunch account, or cash may be sent in daily to purchase any a la carte items. When cash is sent into school, it is added to the account, and change is not sent home with the student. Please make sure any monies sent are in an envelope with the student’s first and last name on it. You may also pre-pay accounts using the SchoolCafe system.  To set up a SchoolCafe account, visit www.schoolcafe.com. This makes it possible for your child’s ID lunch card to act as a debit card for their purchase. Students may not go into a negative balance for any a la carte purchase.

CAFETERIA COST

Student Breakfast………………$2.00

Student Lunch…………………….$3.50

Second Student Lunch……..$2.00

French Fries……………….………$2.00 

Fresh Fruit……………….…………$1.00 

Ice Cream (all varieties)…..$1.00 

Water 8 oz. ………..…………..….$.75

Water 16.9 oz.………………..…..$1.25 

Milk 8 0z. ……………….…………..$.60 

Chips……………..……………..…… $1.00

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

Parents will receive an automated phone call and email from Toms River Schools letting them know if school will be closed. Parents may also tune in to radio stations, WOBM F.M. (92.7) or A.M. (1170); WJLK F.M. (94.3) or A.M. (1310). Channel 21 on your television will also have school closing information as will our website, www.trschools.com.

Hooper Avenue Elementary School institutes a 90 minute delayed opening of school due to inclement weather conditions or other emergency conditions.  When school starts on a delayed opening, the morning Y-Kids and preschool program will be canceled for that day.  All other students should report to bus stops 1 1/2 hours later than their regular time.  Hooper Avenue Elementary School is a third tier school, and our delayed opening will be at 10:10 A.M.

In the event of inclement weather during the school day, an early dismissal may occur. Parents and guardians will receive an automated phone call alerting them of the need to dismiss the students 90 minutes early. Parents may also tune in to radio stations, WOBM F.M. (92.7) or A.M. (1170); WJLK F.M. (94.3) or A.M. (1310). Channel 21 on your television will also have school closing information as will our website, www.trschools.com. Afternoon Y-Kids and PM preschool will be canceled in the event of an early dismissal. Dismissal will take place at 1:10 P.M.

EMERGENCY EARLY DISMISSAL - OTHER THAN WEATHER

On rare occasions, it may become necessary to implement an early dismissal of pupils from school due to emergency circumstances e.g., prolonged power failure, lack of water services, etc. If such an early dismissal becomes necessary, parents and guardians will receive notification by phone and email. Parents and guardians will be notified as early as possible as to the decision to dismiss schools for emergency purposes.

Whenever it becomes necessary to implement the “Early Dismissal Schedule,” the afternoon (p.m.) Y-Kids, PM preschool, and extended day activities will be canceled for that day. Related announcements about the early dismissal decision will be communicated by the district to the local media i.e., local radio stations, newspapers, and will be aired on the Toms River Schools Public Channel 21 and on the district website, www.trschools.com. 

In the eventuality that contact cannot be made with the parent or guardian about the emergency early dismissal, the pupil(s) will be retained at the school under supervision until such contact can be made.

PLEASE ESTABLISH EMERGENCY CLOSING, DELAYED OPENING, AND EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURES WITH YOUR CHILD.  EACH CHILD SHOULD KNOW WHERE TO GO IN THE EVENT THAT HIS OR HER PARENT IS NOT HOME DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

FIRE DRILLS / SECURITY DRILLS

Fire and security drills occur monthly and are mandated by the state of New Jersey.  During a fire drill we expect our students to leave the classroom in a single file line without talking. Listening for directions is a must, since it will help assure the safety of all.

During a security drill, students and staff will be provided specific directions through the intercom depending upon the type of security drill taking place.  These drills include: LockDown, Shelter in Place, and Evacuations. 

The full-time nurses at Hooper Avenue Elementary are responsible for many varied health related duties.  Any questions pertaining to health, such as immunizations, kindergarten registration requirements, contagious diseases, etc. should be directed to the school nurse.  We ask you to consider the following:

1.   The emergency information listed within the Parent Portal must be completed by a parent/guardian each September.  Emergency numbers are essential, and any changes should be changed within the Parent Portal or  reported to the school office immediately, so that we may reach you promptly in the event of a medical concern about your child.  

2.   Actively ill children do not belong in school.  If your child has a fever or active symptoms, such as recent vomiting, or diarrhea, keep him/her home.

 3.   Please call the nurse’s office (732-505-5850) if your child is home with a  

  contagious illness (COVID19, chicken pox, strep infection, pink eye, etc.).

4.   Some illnesses require a doctor’s note in order for the child to return to school.  This doctor’s note may be brought in with your written absence note or may be faxed to the school.  (Fax #732-914-1253)

5.   Accidents that occur in school must be reported to the nurse's office immediately.  If not reported by the child, the parent should do so. 

ADMINISTERING MEDICATION

Pursuant to New Jersey State Law, all medications given to students can only be administered by a certified school nurse or physician. The administration of medications to students in the Toms River Regional Schools will be conducted under these specific rules:

1.   No medication, prescription or nonprescription (i.e.  Aspirin, Tylenol, eye drops, etc.), will be given to a student by the school nurse unless it is received in the original container and accompanied by a written physician and parental/guardian request which  MUST include:

Name of student                     Grade

Name of teacher                     Time to be taken

Name of physician                  Duration of use

Name of medication               Date and signature of parent Dosage of medication            Date and signature of physician Any Known medication allergies 

2.    All medications are to be held in the school nurse’s office, with the parent/guardian assuming the responsibility for delivering and picking up unused amounts when no longer needed.

3.    Prescription medication must be in the original pharmacy-labeled container.

4.    If a student needs an Inhaler, the Asthma Treatment Plan must be completed by your pediatrician. 

It is highly recommended that eye, dental, and medical appointments be scheduled after school hours.  Realizing however, that this is not always possible and that emergencies may arise.  Please know that pursuant to New Jersey law, students must attend school for four (4) hours in order to be counted as present.  If you sign your child out prior to 12:40 P.M. during the school day for any reason, it is considered an absence.

Visitors may only gain access to the school after first ringing the outside bell (Door 1) and presenting themselves for video identification. Once identification has been made, office personnel will “buzz” the visitor in through the main entrance.

ALL PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND VISITORS, UPON ENTERING THE BUILDING FOR ANY REASON, MUST IMMEDIATELY REPORT TO THE MAIN OFFICE.  

Our personnel will be available to assist you.  For student safety and uninterrupted class routine, unauthorized visitors are not permitted to go through the building to classrooms.  Should the need arise for something to be brought in for a student, please bring it to the Main Office where your child will be called to receive it.  Please have each item labeled with the student's name and room number.  Money should be in a sealed envelope.