General School Practices

Mendon Center Phone Numbers

Main Office      - 267-1400
Nurse’s Office  - 267-1440
Attendance      - 267-1409
Fax Machine    - 267 – 1430 (Office)
Fax Machine    - 218-1441 (Nurse)

Mr. Richard Albano, Principal                           - 267-1401
Mrs. Laurie Aldred, Assistant to the Principal   - 267-1402
Jessica LeVan, Assistant Principal                   - 267-1404
Mrs. Debbie Langstein, Nurse                          - 267-1440

District Phone Numbers
District Office     267-1000
Transportation   267-1480

School Address
110 Mendon Center Rd
Pittsford, NY  14534

Welcome to Mendon Center - The Main Office Reception Area
The Main Office Reception Area is the welcome center for all visitors to the school.  Upon arrival at MCE, all visitors must sign in using the iPads. Please be sure to have your driver’s license with you.  Upon completing the login process, you will be issued a badge that must be worn so that it can be seen.  You will then be granted access through the secure door.  Students arriving late to school must be brought inside and signed in by a parent or designee, while students leaving the building during school hours must be met by a parent or designee and be signed out. 

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Student Arrival – Bus and Car
Students will unload from their buses beginning at 8:30 a.m.  and enter the school using the main front doors by the flag pole as well as the front doors by the third grade.  Staff are posted at all doors to help guide children, as well as Safety Patrol students (beginning in late October) inside the building.  During the beginning weeks of school, Kindergarten and first grade teachers will be meeting their students at the front of the school and walking them as a class down to their classrooms.

If you do need to drive your student to school, please do not arrive prior to 8:30 a.m. We do not provide supervision in the building prior to that time. Students may be dropped off at school only at the designated Drop-Off/Pick-Up area located on the side of the building parallel to Mendon Center Road.  At no time should there be students crossing through the parking lot. There will be school safeties and adults at the side door to greet incoming students.

Our homeroom period begins at 8:30 a.m. and announcements will be read at 8:40 a.m. If your child arrives to school after 8:40 a.m, they are tardy and will need to be signed in at the Main Office. 

Student Dismissal
Students will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. to their buses.

To minimize interruptions to a student’s instructional time, parents are encouraged to schedule doctor’s appointments during Lunch/Recess or after school. If you do need to pick up your child during the school day, you must send a note to the teacher indicating the time and reason the child is to be dismissed. 

Dismissal by Car
If your child is not riding the bus and you are picking them up, please send in a signed and completed permission slip in the morning. All students in grades K-5 who are being picked up by car will be picked up at the loop on the west side of the building.   We utilize the Pik My Kid app to expedite the pick-up process.  If you do not have the app, please put your last name on the dash of your car. 

Walkers and Bikers
Children in grades  K, 1, 2 and 3 are not permitted to ride bicycles or walk to school without an adult.  For students in grades K-3 who will be walking home, they will need to have an adult meet them at door 17, by the playground.  Students will need a signed pick-up note in the office.

If you opt to let your fourth-grade, or fifth-grade child walk or bike to school, you’ll need to fill out a permission slip and file it with the Main Office. With a signed permission slip, parents may give authorization to have siblings in grades K-3 walk/ride home with their older sibling. Students must have a signed Permission Slip for Long Term Walkers or Bikers on file to be allowed to walk or ride their bike home. This form must be filled out and on file each school year. Bikers must lock their bicycles to the racks at the front or back of the school. New York State law requires children riding bicycles to wear helmets. Children should walk or ride to school with a buddy, if at all possible.    

Activity Late Bus
Our after-school music activity period will run from 3:05-3:45 p.m., with activity busses pulling away at 3:50 p.m. Students who will be participating in chorus, band, and orchestra will be on a roster that remains consistent and will not require a permission slip to participate in their activity.  The default for these activities will be for the student to take the activity bus home.  If you would like to pick your child up, you will need to send in a permission slip and come into the main office to sign them out.

All other after-school clubs/enrichment programs require a permission slip each time, and a parent/guardian to pick them up at the conclusion of their activity.  This includes all PTSA Enrichment programs and Newspaper Club.

General Bus Information
In late August parents receive detailed information as to time, routes, and bus stops. Questions should be directed to the Transportation Department (267-1480). Bus transportation is a privilege. Students who misuse that privilege may be required to furnish their own transportation.

Bus Conduct:
1.   Observe the same conduct as in your classroom.
2.   Be courteous, use no profane language.
3.   Do NOT eat or drink on the bus.
4.   Keep the bus clean.
5.   Cooperate with the driver.
6.   Do not smoke.
7.   Do not be destructive.
8.   Stay in your seat.
9.   Keep head, hands, feet and personal belongings inside the bus at all times.
10. The Bus Driver is authorized to assign seats.

Consequences:
1. Warning by bus driver.
2. Written warning sent home and referred to the principal.
3. Temporary suspension of bus privileges.
4. Permanent suspension of bus privileges.

The following items are not allowed on the bus:
1.  Large musical instruments, such as tubas, cellos, drums, etc.
2.  Pets
3.  Bulky sports equipment such as hockey sticks, skis, skateboards, etc.

These rules conform to the requirements of the New York State Department of Transportation.

Bus Drills and Bus Safety
Mendon Center participates in the District’s Safe Rider Program for grades K-1. This program, taught by bus drivers, instructs students in bus safety, including danger zones, safe crossing, safe stops and emergency evacuation.

Bus safety instruction and bus drills are held throughout the school year. One of these drills involves all students, including those who usually walk or ride bicycles to school.

Transportation for Daycare
Parents, whose children attend daycare, must fill out a daycare request for transportation. Forms are available from the bus garage or on the school website. Pittsford will bus to any daycare within school district boundaries.

When A Student Is Not Dropped Off
If a driver senses that it may not be safe for a child to be left at a stop (e.g., if it appears that there is no one home to receive the child, or if there is an unknown or suspicious adult in the vicinity), the child will be kept on board the bus and the driver will notify the dispatch office. The dispatcher will then attempt to contact the parent/guardian and will notify the MCE office that the child is being returned to school.

Since it is often difficult for a driver to tell if someone is home, the Transportation Office suggests you set up a signal (open garage door, light on, etc.) with the driver that verifies that you are home. It is also a good idea to send the Transportation Office a written note in the beginning of the year, detailing which neighbors are authorized to meet your child in your absence.

Attendance
When a student is unable to attend school, parents must call the 24 hr. Attendance Line at 267-1409 before 9:00 a.m. Parents must give the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the reason for the absence.

Upon the students return, a signed, written note that contains the child’s name, the reason for the absence and dates of absence, tardiness, or early release is required by NYS.

Accepted reasons for absences and tardiness include personal illness, family illness, medical appointments, a death in the family, religious observance, impassable roads or bad weather, school-sponsored activities, Principal-approved educational experiences, music lessons, court attendance, and activities in which students are representing the school or district, are also acceptable.

Missed Work for Non-legal Absences
Teachers will not provide daily classroom assignments in advance for students missing school for family trips. Assignments cannot replace direct instruction by the teacher and are not generally appropriate for pre-assignment as they involve practice of what has been taught. The teacher will determine what a child needs to make up on his/her return and will assist with understanding of concepts and assignments as needed. According to Pittsford School Board policy, “students who are illegally absent shall be personally responsible for all work missed.” Teachers may suggest some alternative projects for your child such as reading, journal writing, and learning about the vacation site. Parents should contact the teacher and the office to make the school aware of these absences.

If a child is absent due to illness, please refer to MCE’s homework policy.

Attendance Recordkeeping
The building attendance clerk will be responsible for maintaining the Register of Attendance for the building. In accordance to the procedures outlined in this policy. The Register will be kept electronically. Building attendance files, including, but not limited to written excuses and investigation reports, will be kept for one year after the end of the school year.

Attendance Review
Every five weeks, the building principal will review the following attendance reports: students with fifteen or more absences, students with ten or more tardiness, and students with ten or more early dismissals, and determine if any intervention strategies need to be employed. Possible intervention strategies would include, but are not limited to: conference with student, letter to parent or guardian, phone call to parent or guardian, conference with parent or guardian, referral to appropriate community agency/support. Communication will include the reason for concern, a description of District policy, the impact on student learning and potential disciplinary and academic consequences.

Classroom Interruptions
To allow for focused education in our classrooms, interruptions of classes are kept to a minimum once the school day has begun.  If your child forgets a book, homework, sneakers, glasses etc., please, drop them off to the office, labeled with student name and homeroom.

In the interest of the child’s education, we urge you not to make a practice of bringing forgotten items to school. The child should be developing his/her own sense of responsibility for these items.

Dress
Although there is no formal dress code at MCE, students are expected to dress in a tasteful and respectful manner. Any type of dress or grooming that is disruptive or distracting (e.g., shirts with inappropriate slogans or advertising) will not be permitted. In addition, no abbreviated attire (e.g., midriffs, halters, spaghetti-strap or tied-up shirts, or short shorts) should be worn. As a rule, hats may not be worn in the building.

Because neck closure drawstrings on sweatshirts and coats have been identified as a possible choking hazard, we suggest that they be removed whenever possible. Sneakers should be worn for gym class.

To help ensure safety, sandals, flip-flops, and open-toed or high-heeled shoes are not allowed for playing soccer, basketball, or football on the playground.

Several factors impact the decision to keep students inside for recess. The two primary factors are sustained rain and winter temperatures. The considerations related to temperature include the predicted wind factors (speed and duration), as well as the actual temperature reading. As always, principals use thoughtful discretion when making these decisions.  Generally, unless the wind and temperature factors result in a “feels like” temperature of 10 degrees or below, students play outside for recess. Because these weather factors can vary throughout the school day, please ensure that students at all grade levels bring appropriate outdoor attire (warm coats, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats) during the winter months.

Emergency School Closings
If it becomes necessary to close school for an emergency situation (including weather), news of the closing will be sent out to media by 6:30 a.m. and announced on the following radio and TV stations:

AM: WHAM 1180
FM: WARM 101.3, FICKLE 93.3, ZONE 94.1
TV: WROC 8, WHEC 10, WHAM 13, Spectrum Channel 9

Closed caption announcements, channels 8, 9, 10, 13

Parents will update emergency contacts to inform the school of special circumstances, such as working parents, babysitters, etc., so that the school has the information about where your child should go. This will help us make appropriate plans for your child in the event of an early dismissal due to weather. Please be sure that your child knows where to go in your neighborhood in the event that you are not home. Do not wait until the snow season. The principal will make the decision whether walking students will be released to walk home or be required to ride the bus. The district’s switchboard will remain open until all children are home and all busses have arrived safely at our transportation garage.

Lost and Found
Please remember to clearly label all your child’s personal belongings so they may be identified if lost or misplaced.  Items left are placed in the Lost and Found bins in the cafeteria.   Valuable personal items such as glasses are kept in the Main Office.  Unclaimed lost and found articles are donated to charity in December and at the end of the school year.

Transportation maintains its own Lost and Found area for items left on buses.

Lunch Program
Hot lunches are available daily in the cafeteria. A menu is sent home each month. Lunch boxes/bags should be clearly marked with owner’s name and grade. Students have lunch cards to purchase lunches, drinks and snacks/dessert. Parents may send in checks to the main office or go through the Internet to put money on student lunch cards using MY SCHOOL BUCKS. Parents will be notified when the card will run out of money before the end of the next week. Parents may limit what students may purchase. (Further Information on Lunch / Recess may be found under Academics)

Personal Property
A student's personal property is the sole responsibility of the student.  Students should not bring large sums of money or valuable/irreplaceable personal items to school.  Under no conditions should money or valuables be left lying around loose.  Students must report any theft to the Assistant Principal and complete a theft report.  Each student at Mendon Center is provided with a locker in which to keep his/her personal items; however, these lockers do not lock and therefore do not provide any protection against theft.  The district is not responsible for the replacement or reimbursement for stolen personal property.

Student Records: Parental Access
Parents have the right to review their child’s school records and there is a process for parents to challenge the contents of these records. If parents want to review their child’s permanent records, they should contact the principal to make an appointment. The principal will share rights and procedures with parents at this time.

 

SMARTWatch and Wearables:  As part of our commitment to creating a focused and productive learning environment, we are providing you with guidance around the use of smartwatches and wearables during the school day.

 

To minimize distractions and ensure that all students remain fully engaged in their learning, we ask that all smartwatches and wearable devices be either put in school/airplane mode (not receiving or sending data) or placed in your child’s backpack during the school day. This includes any devices that may receive notifications, message, or calls. Also important to note is that we do not assume responsibility for any devices brought to school.

 

If your child needs to communicate with you during the school day, please encourage them to work with an adult at school to contact you. This is particularly important for any changes to dismissal plans, which must go through our main office so that we can account for every student. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain an environment where all students can focus on their schoolwork without interruption, and we can account for the safety of all our students.