FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ARRIVALS/DISMISSALS

What are Eagle Hill’s school hours?

School starts at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 4:00pm Monday through Thursday. Friday Dismissal is 12:35 p.m. Early dismissal is 12:00 p.m. and is announced in the Friday folder or the Friday

e blast.

What is the routine for morning arrival?

Please use the main entrance to the school and drop your child off at the end of the sidewalk area, just off the driveway. There is faculty coverage in this area beginning at 7:45 a.m. each morning. Once your child has been dropped off, you simply continue around to your left to the exit driveway to leave the campus.

What is the procedure for late arrival?

All children who arrive after 8:30 a.m. (late arrival) should go to the main office for a class admission pass.

What is the routine for afternoon dismissal?

Private cars should enter the driveway off Glenville Road that is just beyond the school if you’re heading in a westerly (toward New York) direction. There is a sign which reads, "Eagle Hill

Dismissal Entrance.” To ensure your safety, we require you to stay in your vehicle once you are in our internal road system, and do not attempt to turn around and go back out.

Students who use school district transportation will meet in the Hvolbeck Auditorium, and be placed on the appropriate bus by faculty overseeing the afternoon dismissal process.

What is the procedure for early dismissal?

Early dismissals are considered to be any dismissal up until 3:45 p.m. After that time, we simply cannot honor a request for early dismissal as it is too close to regular dismissal time. We would appreciate receiving requests for early dismissals no later than 1 p.m. on the day the request is made. To advise us of an early dismissal:

• Parents should call the early dismissal phone number (203) 629-1408 before 1:00 p.m. After the automated attendant prompts you, dial 8 and leave your message.
• Children should be picked up in the Main Office at the designated time you have determined for early dismissal.
• Parents should sign their child out at that time so we know the child has left with a responsible adult and will not be in attendance at the usual dismissal time.

BUSES

How do parents check to see if their district will provide transportation?

Parents should contact their district transportation office as soon as possible. Most New York districts seem to provide transportation. Connecticut districts, other than Greenwich, generally do not provide transportation.

What should parents do if they have an issue that arises with their child on the bus?

Eagle Hill would like to be informed of any issues relating to buses on which our students are transported. There are varying degrees of involvement that we, as a school, can have in resolving issues of safety, student interactions (either with each other or with bus personnel), and so on.

Are children allowed to go home with a friend on another district's bus?

Some school districts allow children to accompany their friend’s home on their buses as long as there is approved written permission from the parents and the school district’s transportation department is aware, in advance, of the request. Parents must check with individual districts to be sure of their policy.

DRESS CODE

This is a clarification of particular acceptable dress code clothing items.

What colors of slacks are allowed?

Any solid color chino style slack. No blue jeans.

Is basically any clothing in the (Land's End catalogue) okay?

With the exception of clothing made of sweatshirt and/or fleece material, the clothing contained in the Land's End catalogue is fine.

When and what are Civies Days?

Civies Days are always the last Friday of the month. They will be listed in the monthly calendar throughout the year. Children may “dress down" in a reasonable fashion on Civies Days. No inappropriate slogans or sayings on clothing are allowed. Jeans are ok.

LOCKERS AND CUBBIES

What can my child leave at school?

Children may leave any clothing for co-curricular or sports activities in their lockers. If a student wishes to lock their lockers, they may do so as long as their advisor has a spare key or the combination number in his/her office.

HOMEWORK

What are the homework procedures and expectations at Eagle Hill?

Children will receive homework each day of the school week. Depending upon age and skill level, children will generally have between 45 minutes and two hours of homework during their Eagle Hill experience. The move to more homework is done gradually on an individual or class-by-class basis. Each child also has a study hall in school where homework is started and may be finished (lower school).

How it Works:

• Each student is given an assignment book where they record their homework tasks. We are very interested in knowing what students are capable of in regards to their homework, so they are encouraged to attempt the homework independently and employ learned strategies to complete the task. Homework is a reinforcement tool for recently learned skills and a review of previously learned skills.
• If a child cannot do the homework after a realistic attempt, we would like parents to sign the homework off and let us know that the child attempted the work. Homework that is not completed because the child chooses not to do so will be made up with the teacher the following day. However, if there is an extenuating circumstance for why your child could not complete homework, please inform the child’s advisor the next morning.
• If your child is ill, you may call Joanne Maida (ext 616) and have homework faxed to you or you may pick it up at the end of the school day.

HEALTH OFFICE

Is there a dedicated phone line?

Yes (203) 302-3863 This is a phone and fax line.

What if a child needs over-the-counter medication (e.g., Tylenol, a cough drop) for a cold or headache? Should they bring it in or does the nurse provide it?

The nurse provides over-the-counter medications that have been indicated by parents on the emergency medical form as suitable for use with their child when they need it during the school day. The Health Office is open from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Can children return to school less than 24 hours after having a fever?

Health Office policy requires children to remain home for at least 24 hours after a child has experienced a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea.

What type of contagious illnesses (e.g., strep throat, mononucleosis, lice) should the school be informed of, and when?

The nurse would like to have information about any contagious illness that a student may experience, as soon as possible after a diagnosis is made. A complete list of those illnesses is available in the health office.

HOLIDAYS

How does Eagle Hill celebrate holidays, birthdays, and so on?

Eagle Hill attempts to celebrate as many recognized holidays as possible, and in a variety of

ways. We use the library to promote literary works associated with holidays, and children are welcome to exchange Valentine cards (generally a Lower School interest), or celebrate their birthdays by bringing in treats for their class.

Invitations to occasions such as birthday parties, Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, and so on should be sent via the postal service and not to school for distribution. Religious holidays are recognized as part of the EHS culture, though we do not close school for any religious holidays.

OTHER SERVICES

What related services does Eagle Hill provide?

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE: Eagle Hill has four speech and language pathologists on staff. They provide individual and small group language therapy as well as collaborate with teachers in specific classes. Children are referred based on an annual screening process.

PSYCHOLOGICAL: Eagle Hill has one full time school psychologist, a part-time psychologist and a part-time social worker on staff. They provide individual and small group counseling for students as needed. They also consult with faculty on a variety of topics relative to a student's involvement in the program. At times, they may also participate in updating testing profiles of individual students who are preparing to graduate from Eagle Hill.

ADVISORS

This is a short explanation of the importance of the Advisor role at EHS.

What is the role of the advisor at Eagle Hill?

An advisor is a resource for students, teachers and parents

• Review and maintain files
• Help to set academic and affective goals for the student, and opportunities to meet these goals
• Communicate these goals to faculty and parents
• Help student to increase problem solving, social, and/or behavioral skills through meetings (as needed)during the school day
• Coordinate communication between school and home, school and outside specialists, and teachers at EHS
• Serve as an advocate for the child with faculty, and help the faculty to understand each

child's unique needs and strengths

• Recommend additional support/intervention outside of school
• Write recommendations for schools and camps
• Prepare for and participate in CSE and PPT meetings

(Eagle Hill personnel, including advisors, do not participate in hearings.)

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

What are the school's emergency evacuation procedures? How will we know where our child is?

Unfortunately, we live in a time where preparations which would have seemed unnecessary and extreme several years ago are quickly becoming part of the fabric of daily life. While we hope to never be required to implement an emergency plan which would require moving students off campus, we strongly feel that we must be prepared to do so. This plan will be implemented when it is clear that remaining on campus would compromise the safety of your children.

Every year, we divide the faculty and students into eight groups based on the students’ advisors. We then establish a location off campus that will serve as a refuge during emergencies. Each of these destinations is the private home of a current or alumni parent, and is located in relatively close proximity both to the school and to major arteries or roadways.

Once we reach our destination, we will remain there until it is either safe to return to campus or all children have been picked up by a responsible adult. We will have a water and food supply at each destination site.