General Information

Change of Contact Information

It is important that we have accurate contact information for all parents/guardians. Please continue to update your contact information through the Genesis Parent Portal or contact the school secretary for assistance. Also, changes in medical information should be reported to the school nurse.

Crisis Response Plan

The Westwood Regional School District has developed a Crisis Response Plan to effectively and safely deal with a variety of emergency situations. There are building-based components to this plan as well. The main objective of the plan is to attend to the health and welfare of staff and students in the event of a crisis. In the event of a crisis, the district will communicate with parents/guardians in a number of ways, including the district’s website, email, and the district’s “Blackboard” system.

Field Trip Information

School field trips are arranged from time to time to add to your child’s educational, social, and cultural experiences. Please note that your child’s participation is strictly voluntary, and costs are borne by parents/guardians, though arrangements can be based upon financial need. All field trips will be under teacher supervision, reasonable precautions will be taken for the safety and welfare of students participating, and all students will be expected to leave from school and return to school in the company of the teacher.

Fire and 9-1-1 Drills

Throughout the course of the year, we will be conducting fire drills and 9-1-1 (emergency) drills to help provide a safe environment for our students, staff, and parents/guardians in the event of an emergency. If you have any questions, please contact the Principal. New Jersey State Education Law requires that one fire drill and one emergency drill occur per month throughout the school year.

Guidelines to Help Our Children Stay Safe

The Westwood Regional School District strongly believes in following the New Jersey Department of Education guidelines for keeping our children safe. Therefore, we maintain a strong focus on keeping our schools violence- and drug-free, building positive social and emotional climates, making our buildings physically safe, planning for and responding to crisis situations, building good character, and remediating destructive behaviors.

Each schools has both a nurse and school counselor to assist with student needs. 

For assistance:

Health Agencies

• Care Plus NJ - 201-986-5000

• Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare - 201-646-0195

• Vantage Health System - 201-567-0059

• West Bergen Mental Healthcare - 201-485-7172

• Bergen County Division of Family Guidance - 201-336-7350

• 24/7 PerformCare 877-652-7624

• 24/7 Psychiatric Emergency Screening Program - 201-262-HELP (4357)

Additional resources compiled by the Westwood Regional Department of Special Services (link)

Lunchtime Procedures

At lunch, students are provided with ample time to consume their food and enjoy recess. During this time half the students eat in the cafeteria while the others have recess. Lunch can be brought from home and is available for purchase in grades K – 5. Supervising adults will work with the children to make sure that they make efficient use of the time they are given. When leaving their classroom for lunch students should make sure that they have their food, drink, money, and coat. In the cafeteria, students should focus on eating their food and no student will be permitted to purchase snack until their main meal is eaten. Students are not permitted to bring any glass containers. As long as the weather permits, students will go outside during recess; therefore, it is imperative that they come prepared with appropriate clothing. If a child wears a coat to school, then (s)he will be expected to wear it outside during recess.

Procedures for Going Home or Out for Lunch

If you are taking your child away from the school for lunch, a written permission note to the teacher and principal is required each time the student leaves the school. The district is not responsible for students once they have left the school.

School Conferences

School conferences are an excellent way for parents/guardians and teachers to share information regarding students’ strengths, concerns regarding personal/academic growth, and student goals. Although formal conferences are scheduled for each school in October, parents/guardians should feel free to contact a teacher to schedule an appointment at any time.

Teachers can be reached by e-mail (check school website for email addresses). ​Parents/guardians may also contact the Main Office and leave a message with a secretary. Please allow 48 hours for a response.

If a student or parent/guardian has a concern about the school, the following procedure should be followed to resolve the situation as quickly as possible:

1. Contact the teacher to discuss the matter directly.

2. If the problem still exists, contact the Principal.

3. If the problem remains unresolved, contact the Assistant Superintendent at 201‐664‐0880, ext. 2018.

4. If still unresolved, contact the Superintendent, 201-664-0880, ext. 2001.

5. Finally, if unresolved, ask the Superintendent about involving the Board of Education.

School Website

The official website of the Westwood Regional School District is www.wwrsd.org. The district website should be used for general information about the district, such as Board of Education meetings, upcoming district events, and district information regarding curriculum, instruction, and assessment. For more specific information about a school, such as teacher or grade-level information, individual school calendars, and school-specific upcoming events, go to your school’s website at www.wwrsd.org.

School to Home Communication

Open/regular communication between the school/home is essential for a successful educational experience.

1. Paper: School and teacher notices sent home regarding important news, events, and reminders

2. Electronic: In addition to the website (see previous section), all staff members send, check, and respond to email on a regular basis.

3. Telephone: In addition to using the telephone to speak to someone directly, the SchoolMessenger system is an automated phone service that allows the district to send a single message to every family in the school under 10 minutes. The system will only be used to notify families of important upcoming events and emergency school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissals.

District Calendar of Events and Activities

In addition to school-specific communication resources, a District Calendar of Events and Activities is available to keep WWRSD parents/guardians informed of school and district activities scheduled throughout the school year. For a complete listing of events/activities, visit the district’s website at www.wwrsd.org.

Managing Life Threatening Allergies

The district recognizes pupils may have anaphylaxis to certain foods and other substances. Therefore, it is very important the parents/guardians of pupils with anaphylaxis to food and other substances inform the school principal and school nurse so they may notify those school staff members who may interact with the pupil. For further information, refer to the Anaphylaxis to Food and Other Substances Policy 5331 on the district website (www.wwrsd.org > Board of Education > Policies & Regulations) and the district’s Food Allergy Guidelines.  For more information about WWRSD Allergy Guidelines, visit the Health Portal via the district website:  WWRSD Health Portal.

Snacks and birthday celebrations

The district is dedicated to providing an environment that promotes healthy eating, enabling pupils to make informed choices about the food they eat, and to discourage the consumption of snacks high in fat and sugar. If your child is allowed to have a small snack in his or her class, please make sure the snack is nutritious and healthy. Birthday celebrations can be celebrated with non-food items, collaborating with the student/parent/and teacher.  Please contact the Principal with any questions you have. For further information, refer to Local Wellness and Nutrition Policy 8505 on the district website (www.wwrsd.org > Board of Education > Policies & Regulations) and the district’s Food Allergy Guidelines.

Inclement Weather Regulations

Any change in the normal opening of school will be signaled by sounding the towns’ siren systems at 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 A.M. Specific information about the changes for the day can be obtained in any of the following ways:

• By logging onto the district website at www.wwrsd.org

• By contact via phone call

• By receiving a district e-mail

• By logging onto the WOR website at www.worschoolclosings.info.

Types of Changes

All-day closing: All extracurricular activities, practices, and school-aged childcare programs are cancelled.

• Delayed opening: All schools will open ninety (90) minutes later than the normal start times (grades K–5 = 10:15 A.M.). Staff will report ninety (90) minutes later than the official start time. All before school clubs and YMCA programs will be cancelled. All bus pickups will be ninety (90) minutes after normal time. All students will be dismissed at the normal time.

• Delayed opening changed to an all day closing: Sound of the siren at 8:00 and 8:30 A.M. will signal this change. District and radio websites, switchboard, and phone chain messages will be updated as well.

• One-session day (early dismissal): Sounding of sirens at 11:00 A.M. All students in grades K–5 will be dismissed at 12:45 P.M. Lunch will not be served in the elementary schools. If dismissal occurs during the height of the storm, students, other than those transported by bus, will be permitted to remain at school until storm subsides. Staff will remain until students have left the building.  It is requested that parents/guardians and students observe the signals, websites, and radio broadcasts indicated above. Please refrain from calling the local police departments or school authorities for information to ensure that telephone lines remain clear for emergencies.

Student Records

The Westwood Regional Board of Education is in full compliance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the New Jersey Pupil Records Act. Pupils’ records may be examined by calling the school Principal and arranging for a mutually convenient appointment.

Technology Policy

• Students and parents must approve the Acceptable Use of Computer Network/Computers Policy (Genesis Parent Portal) form before students can use school technology.

• Sharing of passwords is prohibited.

• Students may use a computer under direct teacher supervision only.

• The computer may be used for teacher-directed activities only.

• Installation of software/downloads of any kind is prohibited.

• Students must log out when they are done using the computer.

• Students must log off the workstation if they step away from the computer.

• Students must memorize their password and keep it to themselves.

• Individuals violating policies shall be subject to the consequences as indicated in Board of Education Regulation 2361 and other appropriate discipline.

Parents/Guardians are asked to monitor students’ use of e-mail at home, because inappropriate messages and instant messaging to classmates often result in problems at school. Students do not have access to email at school.

Comprehensive Equity Plan

Under the direction of the District’s Affirmative Action Officer, a Comprehensive Equity Plan guides the district in matters of equity. The plan, approved by the Westwood Regional Board of Education and the N.J. Department of Education, is based on a needs assessment that identifies our compliance with state and federal requirements and laws, as well as areas needing corrective action. Affirmative action policies and procedures are located under Human Resources on the homepage of the district’s website.