Our Procedures

West Dover Elementary School

K-5 Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

Arrival will begin at 9:15 each morning, and dismissal will begin at 3:30 each afternoon.

Vehicles

• • Vehicles will utilize the Blue Jay Drive entrance, drive forward in one lane adjacent to the curb closest to our school, and proceed to the end of the circle and stop.

  • All vehicles must move up as far as possible to allow the arrival process to proceed quickly and safely.

  • Once all vehicles are in park, our staff members on duty will signal that students may exit and/or enter their vehicles. Families are asked to remain in their vehicle at all times.

  • Students are not to be dropped off in the morning without adult supervision. If staff members are not on duty outside, please do not allow your child(ren) to exit from the vehicle.

  • All students must exit and enter from the passenger side of the vehicle onto/from the sidewalk and will proceed into and out of our school through the main entrance.

  • Families who are picking up in the afternoon are not permitted to park in the school parking lot due to changes to bus arrival and dismissal procedures.

  • As we become familiar with your vehicle, it would be helpful if all families could place a sign with their child’s name written on it inside the front passenger dashboard.

Walkers and Bike Riders

• • We encourage all of our families whose children are not assigned to a bus to walk to school each day.

  • Students in grade 3-5 are permitted to ride bicycles to school.

  • The school cannot take responsibility for bicycles or bicycle parts; therefore, bicycles should be securely locked to the rack in the front of the building.

  • All safety rules should be obeyed while riding to and from school. Helmets, which must be worn, will be stored in a designated area within each classroom.

  • Each helmet should be labeled to avoid confusion.

  • For safety reasons, students must walk their bicycles on school property..

  • All students who are walking or riding a bike to school will enter through the main entrance.

  • If students and families enter on the sidewalk furthest from our building, staff members on duty will signal to indicate when it is safe to cross. No student should cross the street without adult supervision.

  • All students and families must cross at the designated crosswalk.

As all of our families know, children can only succeed when they are present in school.  When any student 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 students who are considered to be chronically absent, perform significantly lower on state reading and math exams.  According to the NJ Department of Education, students with good attendance score 11 points higher on reading tests and 13 points higher on math tests.                                                                          

The staff of West Dover Elementary School understand that there are times when students need to be absent from school, and when ill, students 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 student 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'd like to 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 an 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 child to the main entrance.  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 9:20  A.M., and all children should be in their classroom by 9:25 A.M.

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 by October 1 every school year.  Students who qualify for free and reduced meals are entitled to both breakfast and lunch at those rates. West Dover Elementary School has a computerized lunch payment program for all 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 in 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 purchases. Students may not go into a negative balance for any a la carte purchase.

CAFETERIA COSTS

Student Breakfast $1.50

Student Lunch $2.75

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.

West Dover 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 program will be canceled for that day.  All other students should report to bus stops 1 1/2 hours later than their regular time.  West Dover Elementary School is a fourth tier school, and our delayed opening will be at 10:55 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 a weather or emergency related early dismissal. Dismissal will take place at 1:25 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 nurse at West Dover Elementary  School is 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 (732-505-5920) 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 should be sent in with your written absence note.

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. 

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

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                                     

Name of medication   

Dosage of medication      

Time to be taken

Duration of use

Name of physician 

Date and signature of physician

Any Known medication allergies

Date and signature of parent

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 before or 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 be in school for at least four (4) hours in order to be counted as present.  If you sign your child out prior to 1:25 P.M. during the school day for any reason, it is considered an absence. This includes students who are sent home from our nurse's office.

Visitors may only gain access to the school after first ringing the outside bell at our main entrance and presenting themselves for video identification. Once identification has been made, office personnel will “buzz” the visitor in through the main entrance. Please note no visitors will be permitted without photo identification.

Our personnel will be available to assist you.  For student safety and uninterrupted class routines, 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.