ABSENCE
When a student is absent from school, the student’s parent or guardian must provide the homeroom
teacher with a note explaining the absence. Under the Education Laws of the State of New York, the
only excuses for absence or lateness are personal illness, a death in the family, for religious
observance, or for a mandated court appearance. A student is responsible for any work missed during
an absence. Parents or guardians are urged to leave their children in school all day. Doctor or other
appointments should be scheduled after school hours or on school holidays, whenever possible. If a
child needs to be dismissed early, only the parent or a person designated on the blue emergency card
may sign the child out of school.
AGENDAS
All students must purchase an agenda book at the beginning of the school year. The cost of this book
is $5.00 . If it is lost, students will be asked to pay for a replacement. Students must bring this agenda
to school everyday, and use it to record all assignments. Parents may also communicate with teachers
through notes written in the agenda.
ARISTA
Students are encouraged to excel in their studies as well as in service to the school and the
community. Membership in Arista (National Honor Society For Academic Achievement) is open to all 7th
and 8th grade students in the school who meet the following criteria:
ARRIVAL
Students are required to remain outdoors until directed to enter the school building at 8:10 AM. In
inclement weather, students are urged not to arrive until 8:10 AM, unless attending the breakfast
program. Students will adhere to the following procedures for entering the building:
made with a teacher who must meet them in the cafeteria to escort them upstairs.
BREAKFAST
Breakfast is available at no charge every morning in the cafeteria at 7:30 AM. Students must use the
47th Street entrance to access the cafeteria.
BUSES
Students in grade 6 who live one mile or more from the school are eligible for general education
transportation on a yellow school bus. Students who meet other requirements are eligible for half fare
metro cards (see transportation passes section for details).
CUTTING CLASSES
Students who do not attend their assigned classes without a legitimate excuse will be considered
cutting. The dean will be contacted, the student’s parents will be notified, and the student will serve
detention. Any work that is missed while cutting must be made up.
DETENTION
Students may serve detention after school from Monday to Thursday between 2:40 PM and 3:30 PM.
Parents will be notified in advance when a student will be kept after school for disciplinary purposes.
DISCIPLINE CODE
The N.Y.C. Department of Education has established certain standards of behavior with which all
students are expected to comply. These standards include a Discipline Code and a Students Bill of
Rights. The Discipline Code sets forth a description of unacceptable behavior and the range of
permissible discipline and intervention measures which may be used when students engage in this
behavior. The Student Bill of Rights promotes responsible behavior and establishes guidelines for
appropriate and acceptable student conduct, dress, and language. Copies of these Citywide
standards are distributed to all students and parents, are available in the school, and can also be
obtained from the Department of Education website at www.nycenet.edu.
DRESS POLICY
Students are not permitted to wear hats, bandannas, large hoop earrings, lipstick, shorts above the
knee, mini-skirts, tank tops, crop tops, sleeveless shirts, or any other inappropriate form of dress. If
students are found in violation of this policy, they will be removed from class and their parents will be
notified and requested to bring a change of clothing to the school immediately.
EMERGENCY CONTACT CARDS
At the beginning of every school year, parents or guardians are asked to complete blue emergency
contact cards. The information on these cards is extremely important if the school must reach the
parent to relay any urgent information, or in the event of a student’s sudden illness or injury. Please
make certain the information on these cards is always accurate and kept up-to-date. If you move or
change your home, business, or cellular telephone number during the school year, please notify the
main office so the cards may be updated with the correct information. Please be aware that in order for
anyone to pick up your child at school, their name must be listed on the blue emergency card.
FIRE DRILLS
Fire drills are required by law and are an important safety precaution in school. Students are expected
to follow the teacher’s direction and to remain silent. Fire drills constitute an emergency situation;
therefore, inappropriate behavior will result in disciplinary action. All students should follow the
S.O.S. rule of:
GYM UNIFORMS
All students are expected to wear the school gym uniform when participating in physical education
classes. Uniforms may be purchased in school, and a price list will be sent home at the beginning of
the school year. Any student reporting to gym without a uniform is considered unprepared. Three
“unprepared” marks constitute a failure for that marking period.
HOMEROOM
Attendance will be taken daily in both the AM and PM homerooms. During this time, important notices
may be distributed and information relayed to the students. Students will be dismissed from PM
homeroom after the last period of the day by the homeroom teacher at the designated exits.
HOMEWORK
Homework is assigned on a daily basis. Homework assignments are to be recorded in the student
agenda, which should be checked regularly by parents for assignments and notes. One of the criteria
for grading is the satisfactory completion of all homework.
HONOR ROLL
An Academic Honor Roll consisting of four levels is published after each report card period. For the
Principal’s List , the overall grade average must be at least 95.0, with no grade less than 90. The Gold
Level requires a grade average of at least 90.0, with no grade less than 85.0. For the Silver Level, the
overall grade average must be at least 85.0, with no grade less than 80. The requirement for the
Bronze Level is an overall grade average of at least 80.0, with no mark less than 75.0. In addition, for
any level of the Honor Roll, students are expected to maintain Excellent or Satisfactory in conduct, and
to have no more than 2 unexcused absences and/or latenesses.
LATENESS
Students are expected to enter the building at 8:10 AM (unless admitted earlier for the breakfast
program), and report directly to their homeroom. If students enter the building after 8:20 AM, they must
enter through the main door and report to the security desk for a late pass. They must then report to the
Dean’s Office to have the pass stamped and the lateness recorded. All latenesses will be recorded on
student report cards. Students must also avoid lateness to a scheduled class. If a student is detained
by a faculty member, it is their responsibility to obtain a late pass to present to the next subject class
teacher. Mandatory detention will be served after the first three latenesses, and for any three
latenesses thereafter.
LOST AND FOUND
The Lost and Found is located in the Dean’s Office, and is open after dismissal. The school is not
responsible for the loss of personal property or textbooks.
LUNCH
Lunch is provided to all students. Students must remain in the cafeteria for lunch.
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS
Students are responsible for any assignments missed due to absence, lateness, or cutting. It is
recommended that every student have the telephone numbers of at least two other reliable students in
each class who may be contacted for missed assignments.
NOTICES
Important notices for parents are frequently sent home with students. Please ask students about such
notices, and check book bags regularly for important school information.
PARENT COORDINATOR
The Parent Coordinator acts as the liaison between the parents and the school by helping to answer
questions, address concerns, and resolve problems. The Parent Coordinator works with the parents,
school staff, and the community to advocate, inform, and actively engage parents in their children’s
education. Regular communication is maintained between the school and the home through letters,
monthly calendars, fliers, newsletters, emails, and through regular workshops and meetings. Parents
are urged to call or visit the Parent Coordinator throughout the year. She may be reached at the school
number of 718 937-0320 extension 414 or contacted via email at HStrafer@nycboe.net.
PARENTS' ROLE
Parents play a very important role in the education of their children. Parents should:
Become involved in the discussion and the development of a plan of action to assist students in their studies and personal growth
Work with the teachers and staff in enforcing the rules of the school and support the school in its efforts to follow through on their required code of behavior
Become involved in the PTA and work with other parents for the betterment of the school
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
The Parent and Teachers Association of I.S. 125 is an organization whose objectives are:
Parents, legally appointed guardians, or persons in parental relation to students currently attending I.S. 125 are automatically members of the PTA. There is no requirement of dues for membership. The PTA holds monthly meetings, which all parents are encouraged to attend. Parent participation is crucial on
the School Leadership Team, for fund raising activities, at special school events, and in other
volunteer capacities in the school.
The officers of the PTA Executive Board for the 2005-06 school year are:
through the Parent Coordinator.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher conferences are held twice a year in November and February, in both the afternoon and
in the evening. Reports cards are distributed prior to these conferences. It is extremely important for
you to attend these semi-annual conferences in order to meet with your children’s teachers to discuss
their progress in the various subject areas. If necessary, individual conferences may be scheduled
during the year at times that are mutually convenient for the teacher and the parent. A note may be sent
to the teacher to arrange such a meeting.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Only materials necessary for class may be brought to school. Students are not permitted to bring
walkmans, video games, radios, beepers, or cell phones. If these items are brought into the building,
they may be confiscated. Food, candy, or beverage consumption is not permitted in classes or
hallways at any time. Gum is forbidden in the building. Students are not permitted to bring weapons or
dangerous objects of any type into the school building or onto the school grounds at any time.
PROMOTION POLICY
The promotion policy for all students is established by the NYC School Chancellor’s Regulation A-501
which defines standards for promotion to each grade. Students must meet or exceed these
established requirements in order to be promoted to the next grade. These requirements are available
at the school, and may also be obtained from the Department of Education website at www.nycenet.edu.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are distributed to all students four times during the school year. Students are graded on
academic achievement in all subject areas as well as in conduct. Attendance and lateness for both the
reporting period and the year- to-date are included. Report cards must be signed by a parent or
guardian and returned to school promptly.
ROOM PASSES
All students leaving the classroom for any reason must obtain a room pass. Students are not permitted
out of class during the first and last 10 minutes of each period, during periods 1 and 8, and during the
periods immediately before and after their lunch period, except under special circumstances.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
The NYC Schools Chancellor will make the decision to close or delay the opening of school during
stormy weather. The citywide decision will be made as early as possible prior to 6 AM, and announced
on all local radio and television news stations.
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
The School Leadership Team is responsible for developing school-based educational policies and
ensuring that the resources to implement these policies are in place. The SLT is comprised of the
Principal, the United Federation of Teachers chapter chair, the PTA President, parents, and school
staff. The members work together to develop the school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan and
collaborate on a school based budget and staffing plan. They receive a remuneration of $300 for 30
hours of service on the SLT. Any parent interested in becoming a member of the School Leadership
Team should contact the PTA or the Parent Coordinator of the school.
SECURITY
Anyone entering the school building is required to stop at the main security desk in the lobby. All
visitors must show picture identification and sign the visitors book in order to obtain a pass to the main
office. Upon exiting the building, visitor passes must be returned to the Security Officer at the main
security desk.
TRANSPORTATION PASSES
Metro Cards are issued twice a year, in September and in February to eligible students. Students in
grades 5 and 6 who live at least ½ mile and less than 1 mile from the school are eligible for half-fare
transportation passes. If they live more than 1 mile from the school, they are eligible for transportation
on a yellow school bus or for a full fare metro card. Students in grades 7 and 8 who live between ½ and
1 ½ miles from school are eligible for a half fare transportation pass. If they live more than 1 ½ miles
from the school, they are eligible for a full fare pass. If a student’s metro card is lost or stolen, it will take
at least 3 weeks for a replacement card to be issued. These regulations are established by the
Department of Education and are not subject to change by the school. Inquiries concerning pupil
transportation should be directed to Ms. Lydia Kramer, I.S. 125 Transportation Coordinator.
TEXTBOOKS
Students are responsible for all textbooks issued to them. All textbooks must be covered, and the
student’s name, teacher’s name, class, and date must be written in the spaces provided inside the
books. Students must pay immediately for any lost books. Any student who does not return their
textbooks at the end of the school year or pay for their replacement, will not receive a final report card.
TRIP POLICY
No child may go on a trip without a written permission slip signed by a parent or legal guardian.
Parents are encouraged to accompany classes as chaperones on many of these trips. Arrangements
to volunteer as a chaperone may be made with the teacher in charge of the trip.
When a student is absent from school, the student’s parent or guardian must provide the homeroom
teacher with a note explaining the absence. Under the Education Laws of the State of New York, the
only excuses for absence or lateness are personal illness, a death in the family, for religious
observance, or for a mandated court appearance. A student is responsible for any work missed during
an absence. Parents or guardians are urged to leave their children in school all day. Doctor or other
appointments should be scheduled after school hours or on school holidays, whenever possible. If a
child needs to be dismissed early, only the parent or a person designated on the blue emergency card
may sign the child out of school.
AGENDAS
All students must purchase an agenda book at the beginning of the school year. The cost of this book
is $5.00 . If it is lost, students will be asked to pay for a replacement. Students must bring this agenda
to school everyday, and use it to record all assignments. Parents may also communicate with teachers
through notes written in the agenda.
ARISTA
Students are encouraged to excel in their studies as well as in service to the school and the
community. Membership in Arista (National Honor Society For Academic Achievement) is open to all 7th
and 8th grade students in the school who meet the following criteria:
- For Grade 7: An overall average of 90% with no grade lower than 85 - No more than 5 absences and
3 latenesses - Satisfactory or higher on all conduct grades – 20 hours of community service - For Grade 8: An overall average of 90% with no grade lower than 90 (exception for Gym & UA)-No
more than 5 absences and 3 latenesses - Satisfactory or higher on all conduct grades – 30 hours of
community service
ARRIVAL
Students are required to remain outdoors until directed to enter the school building at 8:10 AM. In
inclement weather, students are urged not to arrive until 8:10 AM, unless attending the breakfast
program. Students will adhere to the following procedures for entering the building:
- Grade 8: Enter at 46th Street Auditorium Side
- Grade 7: Enter at 47th Street Cafeteria Side
- Grade 6: Enter at 47th Street Mini-Link
- Grade 5: Enter main entrance on 47th Avenue
made with a teacher who must meet them in the cafeteria to escort them upstairs.
BREAKFAST
Breakfast is available at no charge every morning in the cafeteria at 7:30 AM. Students must use the
47th Street entrance to access the cafeteria.
BUSES
Students in grade 6 who live one mile or more from the school are eligible for general education
transportation on a yellow school bus. Students who meet other requirements are eligible for half fare
metro cards (see transportation passes section for details).
CUTTING CLASSES
Students who do not attend their assigned classes without a legitimate excuse will be considered
cutting. The dean will be contacted, the student’s parents will be notified, and the student will serve
detention. Any work that is missed while cutting must be made up.
DETENTION
Students may serve detention after school from Monday to Thursday between 2:40 PM and 3:30 PM.
Parents will be notified in advance when a student will be kept after school for disciplinary purposes.
DISCIPLINE CODE
The N.Y.C. Department of Education has established certain standards of behavior with which all
students are expected to comply. These standards include a Discipline Code and a Students Bill of
Rights. The Discipline Code sets forth a description of unacceptable behavior and the range of
permissible discipline and intervention measures which may be used when students engage in this
behavior. The Student Bill of Rights promotes responsible behavior and establishes guidelines for
appropriate and acceptable student conduct, dress, and language. Copies of these Citywide
standards are distributed to all students and parents, are available in the school, and can also be
obtained from the Department of Education website at www.nycenet.edu.
DRESS POLICY
Students are not permitted to wear hats, bandannas, large hoop earrings, lipstick, shorts above the
knee, mini-skirts, tank tops, crop tops, sleeveless shirts, or any other inappropriate form of dress. If
students are found in violation of this policy, they will be removed from class and their parents will be
notified and requested to bring a change of clothing to the school immediately.
EMERGENCY CONTACT CARDS
At the beginning of every school year, parents or guardians are asked to complete blue emergency
contact cards. The information on these cards is extremely important if the school must reach the
parent to relay any urgent information, or in the event of a student’s sudden illness or injury. Please
make certain the information on these cards is always accurate and kept up-to-date. If you move or
change your home, business, or cellular telephone number during the school year, please notify the
main office so the cards may be updated with the correct information. Please be aware that in order for
anyone to pick up your child at school, their name must be listed on the blue emergency card.
FIRE DRILLS
Fire drills are required by law and are an important safety precaution in school. Students are expected
to follow the teacher’s direction and to remain silent. Fire drills constitute an emergency situation;
therefore, inappropriate behavior will result in disciplinary action. All students should follow the
S.O.S. rule of:
- Silence (no talking)
- Order (follow directions of staff )
- Speed (move quickly without running)
GYM UNIFORMS
All students are expected to wear the school gym uniform when participating in physical education
classes. Uniforms may be purchased in school, and a price list will be sent home at the beginning of
the school year. Any student reporting to gym without a uniform is considered unprepared. Three
“unprepared” marks constitute a failure for that marking period.
HOMEROOM
Attendance will be taken daily in both the AM and PM homerooms. During this time, important notices
may be distributed and information relayed to the students. Students will be dismissed from PM
homeroom after the last period of the day by the homeroom teacher at the designated exits.
HOMEWORK
Homework is assigned on a daily basis. Homework assignments are to be recorded in the student
agenda, which should be checked regularly by parents for assignments and notes. One of the criteria
for grading is the satisfactory completion of all homework.
HONOR ROLL
An Academic Honor Roll consisting of four levels is published after each report card period. For the
Principal’s List , the overall grade average must be at least 95.0, with no grade less than 90. The Gold
Level requires a grade average of at least 90.0, with no grade less than 85.0. For the Silver Level, the
overall grade average must be at least 85.0, with no grade less than 80. The requirement for the
Bronze Level is an overall grade average of at least 80.0, with no mark less than 75.0. In addition, for
any level of the Honor Roll, students are expected to maintain Excellent or Satisfactory in conduct, and
to have no more than 2 unexcused absences and/or latenesses.
LATENESS
Students are expected to enter the building at 8:10 AM (unless admitted earlier for the breakfast
program), and report directly to their homeroom. If students enter the building after 8:20 AM, they must
enter through the main door and report to the security desk for a late pass. They must then report to the
Dean’s Office to have the pass stamped and the lateness recorded. All latenesses will be recorded on
student report cards. Students must also avoid lateness to a scheduled class. If a student is detained
by a faculty member, it is their responsibility to obtain a late pass to present to the next subject class
teacher. Mandatory detention will be served after the first three latenesses, and for any three
latenesses thereafter.
LOST AND FOUND
The Lost and Found is located in the Dean’s Office, and is open after dismissal. The school is not
responsible for the loss of personal property or textbooks.
LUNCH
Lunch is provided to all students. Students must remain in the cafeteria for lunch.
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS
Students are responsible for any assignments missed due to absence, lateness, or cutting. It is
recommended that every student have the telephone numbers of at least two other reliable students in
each class who may be contacted for missed assignments.
NOTICES
Important notices for parents are frequently sent home with students. Please ask students about such
notices, and check book bags regularly for important school information.
PARENT COORDINATOR
The Parent Coordinator acts as the liaison between the parents and the school by helping to answer
questions, address concerns, and resolve problems. The Parent Coordinator works with the parents,
school staff, and the community to advocate, inform, and actively engage parents in their children’s
education. Regular communication is maintained between the school and the home through letters,
monthly calendars, fliers, newsletters, emails, and through regular workshops and meetings. Parents
are urged to call or visit the Parent Coordinator throughout the year. She may be reached at the school
number of 718 937-0320 extension 414 or contacted via email at HStrafer@nycboe.net.
PARENTS' ROLE
Parents play a very important role in the education of their children. Parents should:
Become involved in the discussion and the development of a plan of action to assist students in their studies and personal growth
Work with the teachers and staff in enforcing the rules of the school and support the school in its efforts to follow through on their required code of behavior
Become involved in the PTA and work with other parents for the betterment of the school
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
The Parent and Teachers Association of I.S. 125 is an organization whose objectives are:
- To provide support and resources to the school for the benefit and educational growth of the students of I.S. 125
- To encourage and help to develop a cooperative working relationship between the parents and staff of our school and between the home, the school, and the community
- To foster and encourage parent participation on all levels
- To provide opportunities and training for parents to participate in school governance and decision making
Parents, legally appointed guardians, or persons in parental relation to students currently attending I.S. 125 are automatically members of the PTA. There is no requirement of dues for membership. The PTA holds monthly meetings, which all parents are encouraged to attend. Parent participation is crucial on
the School Leadership Team, for fund raising activities, at special school events, and in other
volunteer capacities in the school.
The officers of the PTA Executive Board for the 2005-06 school year are:
- President Bharat Shah
- Secretary Geeta Prajapati
- Treasurer Rashmi Shah
through the Parent Coordinator.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher conferences are held twice a year in November and February, in both the afternoon and
in the evening. Reports cards are distributed prior to these conferences. It is extremely important for
you to attend these semi-annual conferences in order to meet with your children’s teachers to discuss
their progress in the various subject areas. If necessary, individual conferences may be scheduled
during the year at times that are mutually convenient for the teacher and the parent. A note may be sent
to the teacher to arrange such a meeting.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Only materials necessary for class may be brought to school. Students are not permitted to bring
walkmans, video games, radios, beepers, or cell phones. If these items are brought into the building,
they may be confiscated. Food, candy, or beverage consumption is not permitted in classes or
hallways at any time. Gum is forbidden in the building. Students are not permitted to bring weapons or
dangerous objects of any type into the school building or onto the school grounds at any time.
PROMOTION POLICY
The promotion policy for all students is established by the NYC School Chancellor’s Regulation A-501
which defines standards for promotion to each grade. Students must meet or exceed these
established requirements in order to be promoted to the next grade. These requirements are available
at the school, and may also be obtained from the Department of Education website at www.nycenet.edu.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are distributed to all students four times during the school year. Students are graded on
academic achievement in all subject areas as well as in conduct. Attendance and lateness for both the
reporting period and the year- to-date are included. Report cards must be signed by a parent or
guardian and returned to school promptly.
ROOM PASSES
All students leaving the classroom for any reason must obtain a room pass. Students are not permitted
out of class during the first and last 10 minutes of each period, during periods 1 and 8, and during the
periods immediately before and after their lunch period, except under special circumstances.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
The NYC Schools Chancellor will make the decision to close or delay the opening of school during
stormy weather. The citywide decision will be made as early as possible prior to 6 AM, and announced
on all local radio and television news stations.
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
The School Leadership Team is responsible for developing school-based educational policies and
ensuring that the resources to implement these policies are in place. The SLT is comprised of the
Principal, the United Federation of Teachers chapter chair, the PTA President, parents, and school
staff. The members work together to develop the school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan and
collaborate on a school based budget and staffing plan. They receive a remuneration of $300 for 30
hours of service on the SLT. Any parent interested in becoming a member of the School Leadership
Team should contact the PTA or the Parent Coordinator of the school.
SECURITY
Anyone entering the school building is required to stop at the main security desk in the lobby. All
visitors must show picture identification and sign the visitors book in order to obtain a pass to the main
office. Upon exiting the building, visitor passes must be returned to the Security Officer at the main
security desk.
TRANSPORTATION PASSES
Metro Cards are issued twice a year, in September and in February to eligible students. Students in
grades 5 and 6 who live at least ½ mile and less than 1 mile from the school are eligible for half-fare
transportation passes. If they live more than 1 mile from the school, they are eligible for transportation
on a yellow school bus or for a full fare metro card. Students in grades 7 and 8 who live between ½ and
1 ½ miles from school are eligible for a half fare transportation pass. If they live more than 1 ½ miles
from the school, they are eligible for a full fare pass. If a student’s metro card is lost or stolen, it will take
at least 3 weeks for a replacement card to be issued. These regulations are established by the
Department of Education and are not subject to change by the school. Inquiries concerning pupil
transportation should be directed to Ms. Lydia Kramer, I.S. 125 Transportation Coordinator.
TEXTBOOKS
Students are responsible for all textbooks issued to them. All textbooks must be covered, and the
student’s name, teacher’s name, class, and date must be written in the spaces provided inside the
books. Students must pay immediately for any lost books. Any student who does not return their
textbooks at the end of the school year or pay for their replacement, will not receive a final report card.
TRIP POLICY
No child may go on a trip without a written permission slip signed by a parent or legal guardian.
Parents are encouraged to accompany classes as chaperones on many of these trips. Arrangements
to volunteer as a chaperone may be made with the teacher in charge of the trip.
