Cottage Lane School
Where Children Come First and Everybody is Somebody

School Year 2009-2010

Dear Parents,

Cottage Lane Elementary School is a unique and exciting 4th and 5th grade public school designed to meet the needs of diverse learners. Our philosophical commitment is to balancing social, emotional and educational development. We strive to meet the particular needs of our children by placing equal importance on emotional intelligence and academic performance. Students are educated in a stimulating environment where they are being prepared with appropriate skills to be successful in the 21st Century.

Our curriculum and instruction includes the following: Carefully designed inter-disciplinary units of study with a student-centered, inquiry-based, hands-on, discovery approach to learning. Children work both independently and in small groups on projects and assignments that stimulate logical reasoning, imagination, and connections to the world we live in. Creative problem solving, divergent thinking, research, self and peer evaluation are emphasized in each classroom. Simultaneously, our children are assisted in developing essential social skills to Foster a Respectful Learning Community. This initiative will be accomplished through Character Education, Anti-bullying, and in establishing warm classroom environments. We will work on teaching effective communication and social skills so that our children acquire an understanding of their vital role as members of society.

We are pleased to introduce the Cottage Lane Community Website.  This resource will be used to improve communication between school and home. Your child’s teacher(s) are working on posting their own class web page where they may post important class information like homework assignments, test dates, announcements and other class resources. Please note that teachers are not required to post assignments, tests, quizzes, and students will always be responsible for writing the details of these assignments in their student planners that they received during the first week of school.

Our website has useful resources such as a monthly calendar of events, a school directory, including teacher and administrator contact information, important announcements, documents handed out in school and much more.

We look forward to an exciting and productive school year!

Sincerely,

Brian Culot, Principal

 

Brian Culot Principal 680-1503 bculot@socsd.org

Karen Ramirez Assistant Principal 680-1518 kramirez@socsd.org

STUDENT SAFETY – ALWAYS A PRIORITY

Appropriate behavior is defined as remaining seated at all times and talking quietly to a friend and cooperating with the bus driver. This type of behavior will ensure the following:

A.       The safety of passengers and the driver

B.       Less distraction for the driver

C.      The bus ride will be a positive experience for everyone

We are asking that students secure their seat belt before the bus is in motion.

SIGNING OUT STUDENTS

Please remember that parents are responsible for signing children out during pick up time. Due to safety conditions, students are not allowed and will not be permitted to meet their parent in the parking lot. Parents are expected to come into the school to sign their child out. If you come into school after 3:00 p.m., after you sign in, please wait for your child in the cafeteria. This will help keep the halls clear and secure for the children.

WALKERS

Children will only be permitted to walk home if they have written permission from their parent or guardian. Walkers are expected to take the bus home if the weather presents unsafe walking conditions.

FRIENDSHIP BUSES/TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

Just a reminder, the district’s new bus company doesn’t permit friendship buses. Therefore, we cannot honor requests for children to ride a different bus. If you have any questions about this policy or have an issue with your child’s transportation route, please call the transportation department at 680-1662.
 

SECURITY
We will continue to have a security guard manning the entrance to Cottage Lane. Please cooperate with him in enforcing the district policy of displaying photo I.D. and complying with any other directions he may give. Our expectation at Cottage Lane is to cooperate with each other in a respectful and polite manner.

Mr. Soss, myself, and the entire Cottage Lane staff are truly dedicated to your child’s academic and social development. We will do our best to ensure your child has a very positive school year experience. However, we cannot do this alone – we need your support every step of the way.