Communication between school staff and parents
Communication between school staff and parents is of vital importance to children's education. If a parent or guardian wishes to speak with a teacher, (s)he should send a note to the teacher or call the school (between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) to leave a message. Teachers will return messages as soon as they are able. Except in emergency or extenuating circumstances, writing or leaving a message is preferable to trying to speak with teachers at arrival or dismissal time, since teachers need to be attending to students as they start or end the school day. If there is information of which a teacher should be aware (e.g. change in dismissal routine, an event or crisis at home that may be impacting a child), parents are encouraged to send in a note about the situation. Unless a teacher has specifically indicated otherwise, parents should not call him/her at home.

Notices
Many notices are sent home from the school with students. These include

• information from classroom teachers,
• principal's newsletters, 
• forms from Winn Brook office or from the school department,
• information about events sponsored by P.T.A. or community organizations.

While we try to have Wednesdays be the major "notice-home-day", there may be notices on other days as well. It is ESSENTIAL that parents/guardians check backpacks and school bags daily for notices. If a form or notice requires a response, please do so immediately. In instances where students' time is split between two different households, it is useful for the adults to work out a system for sharing information that comes home with a child so that they can both be kept informed.

Protocol for Expressing Concerns
If a parent/guardian has a concern or question about classroom instruction or happenings, (s)he is encouraged to contact the teacher. Together, every effort will be made to clarify or resolve the issue. If the problem is not resolved and still is of concern, the parent or teacher may bring the issue to the attention of the principal. Please see "Parent/Guardian Contact Guidelines".

Parent/teacher conferences
Parent/teacher conferences take place during release time in both the fall and spring. During these conference times, students are not in school. Teachers send out appointment forms in advance, trying, whenever possible, to take into account constraints in parents'/guardians' schedules, if they are known. Flexibility on the part of parents/guardians in trying to attend at the time scheduled is greatly appreciated. In situations where adults, with direct responsibility for a student, do not live in the same household and wish to attend a conference, the adults need to arrange a way to inform one another of scheduled conferences. In addition to the regularly scheduled conferences, a parent or teacher may set up other times for phone discussions or conferences as needed.

Report cards
Written pupil evaluation reports are distributed by classroom teachers three times yearly for students in grade 1-4 and twice yearly for those in kindergarten. There is one form used for kindergartners, another one for first graders, and a third one for students in grades 2-4. Report cards for students are given to parents/guardians at the fall and spring conferences, and a final report is sent home with all students on the last day of school in June. In spring and on the last day, there is also a report from special subjects teachers (music, art, physical education) on progress in these areas.

Gifts to school personnel or for the school
On occasions during the school year, some students or parents/guardians may choose to show their appreciation to a staff member by presenting a note or letter, a modest personal gift, or a gift for the classroom. It is understood that gifts to staff members will not be elaborate or unduly expensive. In the event of a classwide collection, parents/guardians should feel that participation is voluntary and that they have a choice about what amount, if any, they wish to contribute.

The P.T.A. sponsors a "Gift Book" program, whereby families or relatives can donate a book to the school library in the name of a given student or family as a way of commemorating a special occasion.