Admissions Process

We hope you are as excited as we are about the first day of school! We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!  We thought it would be a good idea to go through the opening procedures one more time, to make sure everybody has a clear idea of what to expect.

• September 7th, the first day of the 23-24 school year! The school day runs from 8:20 to 2:40. That means, in general, ALL students are expected to be in at arrival locations AT 8:20. 

   

• For tomorrow, here is the opening procedure:

  • 6th graders will use the gym/auditorium entrance on 237th street. Parents/caregivers and kids will say "so long" to each other outside; kids will be on their own inside—though with plenty of supervision and assistance from middle school staff. We will round them up by Period 1 teacher and send them to class.  Period 1 teachers will distribute programs and remind students how to read them.

  • 7th & 8th graders will proceed through the arcade (facing Independence Avenue) and enter the cafeteria through the Arcade entrances. They will receive programs and head to period 1 classes.

  • High School students will stop at the appropriate tables under the arcade to pick up programs and promptly proceed to their first period classrooms.

     

• If dropping off your child by car, PLEASE exercise EXTREME caution! Refrain from double and triple parking, and always be mindful of students and other pedestrians trying to cross the street or get off buses.

   

• Transportation information: The DOE is closely following the potential strike between private bus companies and bus drivers, which could impact approximately half of bus drivers and bus staff in NYC. The DOE has contingency plans set up to ensure that all impacted students can get to school safely. This includes distribution (by the school) of emergency Metrocards, and arrangements for pre-paid ride or transportation reimbursement (in specific cases). Affected families will receive automated emails, phone calls, and text messages from the DOE to the information on file in the ATS system. Please make sure the school has your most current, accurate, contact information by making sure your NYC Schools (NYCSA) Account is up-to-date.   You will also find your yellow bus route/pick-up time, etc, on NYCSA. If you need help with your NYCSA account, please contact JPrince4@schools.nyc.gov. You can also get in-depth transportation information at schools.nyc.gov/school-life.  We will also be distributing Metro Cards to entitled students tomorrow. 

• All students will need to carry a laptop device with them throughout the school day. Students in Grades 7-12 who need to borrow a device from the school, may fill out the link here. 6th graders will receive assistance with their remote devices from their Math teachers and do not need to fill out the form.  Password resets will be handled in the library periods 2-8.

• Teachers will share Google Classroom codes during the first days of school. Our school-parent communication will take place primarily through Jupiter Ed (test scores, assignments, grades, etc). This log-in info will also come during the first few days. You can find the staff email list in your Welcome Packet (see below) and staff will also continue to communicate individually through their @schools.nyc.gov accounts.

• Your child will be bringing a Welcome Packet after the first day of school. Please review the materials inside right away and complete and return the necessary forms. Among the most important are the two blue emergency cards and the school lunch form. Even though lunch (and breakfast) is free, the completed lunch form impacts the funding schools receive. If you receive a form in Spanish (we were short-shipped English ones), please note that you can (it's actually easiest for all) complete your lunch form ONLINE at Myschoolapps.com. Check out the "Lunch Form Raffle" info, as well!

• A quick reminder about our new school cell phone policy for students. In every class period, students must deposit their phones into the clear plastic pouch that is affixed to the front of each student desk. The phone will stay in each pouch for each entire class period, unless a student needs to use the restroom, in which case they will bring the phone to the teacher to trade for a hall pass. They will retrieve the phone when they return to the room. All classrooms will be following this procedure.

   

   

• Those of you with questions about the RNH Afterschool Program or any other RNH activities must contact their offices (located in the school building DIRECTLY. RNH is a separate administration from the school and develops and runs their own programs and registration. Their direct line is 718-796-4724, and their email is afterschool-rcc@riverdaleonline.org.

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• Huge shout out to the Parents Association for supplying us with a wonderful Welcome Back luncheon yesterday and the school looks great thanks to the new rugs purchased by the PA.  You can get involved too by emailing RKA141PA@gmail.com. 

The staff and I are very excited to see the students again and for the first time!!  The school looks great, we are ready, and we know it is going to be a great kick-off tomorrow.