The New Family Guide - The Gordon School

A beginner’s guideto Gordon2010

A beginner’s guideto Gordon2010Getting ConnectedPeople to KnowThe Board of TrusteesFamily-teacher communicationschool-home communicationPrivacyemergenciesA gordon glossarySome Annual HighlightsThe Gordon Day45 Maxfield AvenueEast Providence, RI 02914401 434-3833www.gordonschool.org

Getting connectedGordon recognizes the importance of strong communication between theschool and students’ families. Here are a few examples of ways you can helpmaintain a solid connection between your home and the classroom.KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION FRESHIn the coming months, you will receive information on how to log in to theGordon website. Learn how to use the password-protected online directoryto provide the school—and other families—with any changes to your contactinformation during the year.JOIN THE EMAIL LISTWeekly emails provide reminders of upcoming events, plus late breakingannouncements. This is a simple way to stay on top of the day-to-day life atGordon. Email news@gordonschool.org to join.CHECK BACKPACKSTeachers enlist their students to bring notices and classroom newsletters hometo their parents. Encourage students to take their courier responsibility seriously;these notices are a great way to find out what’s happening in their lives.GO TO ORIENTATIONMeet your student’s classroom teacher, their division director, and other classroomparents on the day before school begins. This is also your chance to pickup your copy of the Directory, a basic resource that will help keep youconnected all year long.Go to New Family CoffeesThe Admission Office hosts a series of morning gatherings immediately beforeschool, with free child care available.GO TO OVERVIEW NIGHTSAt Overview Nights, your child’s teachers give you an in-depth look at theyear to come and a detailed preview of the coming year’s curriculum. Theconversation at Overview Night gets the family-teacher relationship off to astrong start early in the year.GO TO AGES AND STAGESAges and Stages is a series of informal breakfast meetings for each grade level.The school psychologist and the division director lead a discussion of thedevelopmental stages that children experience at each age level. This is onemore opportunity to strengthen your connection with the division directorsand with the families of your child’s peers.ATTEND A BOOK GROUPThe Diversity Committee organizesthe Parent and Faculty Book Groupthat uses fiction and nonfiction tospark connections among faculty andparents.USE THE SCHOOLStudents’ families are welcome to borrowbooks from the Joukowsky FamilyLibrary. In addition to the maincollection, the Library has a rich andcurrent selection of books on parentingand education.The Nursery and Preschool sections ofthe Mann Family Early ChildhoodPlayground are open to everyoneoutside of school hours. Young childrenand their families can be foundlingering there after pickup on sunnyafternoons.Families also use Gordon’s playgroundsand fields on the weekends.An on campus play date is a greatalternative to a visit to one child’shome.Parent and Faculty Book Group selectionshave included...Julia Alvarez In the Name of SalomeDouglas Blackmon Slavery by AnotherNameBliss Broyard One DropStephen Dubner Turbulent Souls: ACatholic Son’s Return to his Jewish FamilyNadine Gordimer The PickupKhaled Hosseini The Kite RunnerEdward P. Jones The Known WorldMarie Myung-Ok Lee Somebody’sDaughterKim McLarin Jump at the SunSena Jeter Nahlund Four SpiritsZadie Smith On BeautyRon Suskind A Hope in the UnseenAnne Tyler Digging to AmericaRebecca Walker Black, White and JewishTim Wise White Like Me: Reflections onRace from a Privileged SonAll adults are invited to serve themselvescoffee and tea in the kitchen throughout the day. Even the quickest stopcan result in a friendly encounter between adults.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE GCAThe Gordon Community Association, the school’s parent volunteer group, willcontact you in August and September with opportunities to get involved in itsbusy and varied list of activities.VOLUNTEER IN OTHER WAYSMany teachers welcome family members into the classroom to share a specialskill, hobby or area of expertise, or simply to read a book aloud to students.Ask your classroom teacher how you might help.The librarians always appreciate help shelving books or staffing the checkoutdesk.Volunteers labor behind the scenes at the after school theater productions,as well as the special events produced by the Development and Admissionoffices.The Development Office’s Annual Fund welcomes parents who can call otherparents to talk about philanthropic support for the school.The Admission Office enlists interested parents to assist with recruitment,mentoring, leading tours, and more.

People to knowNew students have many new people to meet, and so do their families.CLASSROOM TEACHERSYour child’s classroom teacher is the first person to go to when you have questions,concerns and ideas about your child’s development. Classroom rostersare announced in a mailing that goes home to parents in August. Days are setaside for conferences in October and March, but you should not hesitate toreach out to a teacher anytime during the year.Grade representativesEach classroom and advisory is assigned a volunteer from the Gordon CommunityAssociation who serves as a conduit for communication between thehome and the school. You can count on this person to keep you posted onmajor upcoming school events.MENTORThe Admission Office matches each new family with an experienced Gordonfamily that has a child at the same grade level. These mentors can be greatresources as your family explores the world of the school.THE NURSEGordon has a full time nurse on duty. It is important to keep the nurse briefedon all health issues, so that the school can respond quickly and appropriatelyto all students’ needs.

People to knowTHE FRONT DESK STAFFThe school’s receptionists, Kim O’Donnell and Kay Webber, are everyone’sfirst stop when they are looking for a student, a teacher, or a piece of vital information.Next time you call the school, or pass through the front office, takethe time to introduce yourself.the Head of SchoolHead of School RALPH WALES is responsible for your child’s education andwelfare during his or her years at Gordon. You’ll get to know Ralph informally,at school events and in the hallways, but you should also feel free to schedulea one-on-one appointment with him at any time through the Assistant to theHead, CLARE BLACKMER.the Admission OfficeAs a new family, you already have a relationship with Admission and FinancialAid Director EMILY ANDERSON, who will remain available to youthroughout your time at Gordon. Any questions on enrollment or financial aidshould be directed to Emily and Admission Assistant Denise Johnson.the Academic DirectorsThe four Academic Directors—one for each division, and a school-wide Directorof Diversity and Multicultural Practice—oversee the day-to-day implementationof the curriculum, and remain on call to respond to individual faculty,student and parent needs. Together, they are responsible for your family’sexperience at Gordon.the Development OfficeThe Development Director KERRIE DONAHUE handles all of Gordon’s fundraisingefforts, organizes special events and maintains the school’s connectionwith alumni. She is also an excellent resource if you are interested in volunteeringat Gordon.Associate Director of Development Siobhan Welsh is directly responsiblefor the school’s relationship with alumni and their families. She and DevelopmentAssistant Paola Martinez manage the school’s Annual Fund, whichrepresents a significant portion of the school’s annual operating budget.Manager of Publications and Public Relations Geoff Griffin is responsiblefor much of the school’s photography and written communication. Bring himquestions about the website, weekly emails, monthly mailings and advertising.Cindy Elder has joined the Development Office for 2010 to serve asCentennial Programs Coordinator, bringing together the elements necessary tomake this year’s celebrations inclusive and memorable.the Business OfficeThe Business Office has all of the information you need about billing andtuition, and the Business Manager, TOM CICATIELLO, is also responsible formaintaining the school’s physical plant. Assistant to the Business ManagerCarmen Garcia should be your first stop if you have any concerns aboutbilling and payment options.The Director of Diversity and Multicultural Practice KIMBERLY RIDLEy workswith faculty, students, administrators, trustees and parents to enhance theschool’s multicultural curriculum and build a multicultural community.Most students begin at Gordon in Nursery, Preschool and Kindergarten, so theEarly Childhood Director MAUREEN KELLY has the pleasure of welcomingfamilies to the school.The Lower School Director MARYANNE PIERI shepherds children in firstthrough fourth grade—and their parents—through the years when students’language and math skills blossom, and they become increasingly capable ofindependent work.The Middle School Director DANNY KARPF oversees fifth through eighthgrade, the culmination of a student’s Gordon experience, and plays a key rolein preparing students for the new challenges of secondary school.

The Board of TrusteesWHAT IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES?The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the school. The Head of Schoolreports directly to the trustees. This structure, with the trustees at the top of theschool’s organizational chart, is typical of independent schools.Gordon has twenty-six trustees. Some are education professionals, but mostare parents of Gordon students or of a graduate. They meet monthly duringthe school year.The Board has three obligations:1. Maintaining and supporting the school’s mission2. Overseeing the financial health of the school3. Selecting, evaluating, and supporting the Head of SchoolThe trustees’ work is primarily long term planning, with decisions that areimplemented over periods ranging from eighteen months to five, ten and eventwenty years. The day-to-day work of running the school is left in the hands ofthe staff, teachers and administrators.Much of the Board’s work is completed in one of the Board Committees: Buildingsand Grounds, Development, Diversity, Education, Executive, Finance,Marketing, Personnel, and Trusteeship.TRUSTEES OVERSEE THE FINANCESEach year, trustees outline their strategic priorities, and the Finance Committeepresents them with a budget that reflects those priorities. By January, thebudget for the following year has been finalized and approved. The trustees reviewthis twelve-month budget alongside a five-year projection that illustratesthe long-term impact of each decision.Expenses are just half the budget. Trustees also develop the income side. Gordonhas three main sources of revenue: interest on the endowment, fundraisingincome and tuition. Here, too, the trustees have worked to make sure theselines of the budget are steady and predictable over the years.The trustees, Finance Committee and administration monitor how the budgetplays out over the course of the year. Any significant changes in income andexpenses are reported to the trustees, and, at year’s end, the board commissionsan independent audit of the school’s accounts.In February, representatives from the Business Office join trustees to presentthe budget-making process in detail at Finance Information Night.TRUSTEE SELECTIONThe Board’s Trusteeship Committee must evaluate the board’s long-range,leadership requirements. In addition, ongoing review of the volunteers onthe board committees produces an extensive pool of very qualified individualswith a variety of backgrounds that can be asked to fill the board’s specificneeds.The committee then works to ensure that the composition of the Board ofTrustees reflects the racial, socioeconomic and geographic diversity of Gordon’sstudent body as well as a range of interests and professional skills.

Family-Teacher CommunicationConference days are formally scheduled in October and March. On conferencedays, school is not in session, and Gators childcare is available all day.Families are welcome to reach out to teachers outside of the context of conferencedays as well. On Overview Nights in the beginning of the year, eachteacher will go over the best ways for families to contact them.The front desk is always ready to connect anyone with a teacher’s voice mail.Teachers check their voice mail at least once a day, and will return phone callsas quickly as possible.Teachers also have email addresses at Gordon. These addresses follow thispattern:first initial last name @gordonschool.orgFor example, Gordon’s founder, Helen Cooke, would have hadhcooke@gordonschool.org for an email address.Teachers will respond to an email with a request for a direct one-on-one conversationif they feel that email is not the best way to cover the topic at hand.PLEASE NOTETeachers sometimes cannot check email or voice mail until well after theschool day has ended. Any message that requires a quick response—a changein a student’s after school plans, for instance—must be conveyed by speakingdirectly to the receptionist at the front desk.Any changes in address or contact information should be conveyed immediatelyto the school’s receptionist, who will pass the information on to allappropriate staff.

School-Home CommunicationGordon families hear from the school through a suite of information sourcesthat come out annually, monthly, weekly and even daily.AnnuallyWall calendarThe school produces a wall calendar that is available before school begins.Families can rely on this as their source for basic times and dates of events forthe coming year. Any changes and additions to this calendar will be publicizedin the publications listed below.Twice annuallyProgress reportsTwice a year, in December and in June, all parents of children in Kindergartenthrough the eighth grade receive a detailed written evaluation of their child’sprogress. In sixth, seventh and eighth grade, these reports are augmented withletter grades. Nursery and Preschool parents receive progress reports in June.MonthlyGordon MonthlyThis monthly newsletter spotlights life throughout the school, and compilesinformation originally published in the weekly emails and on the website.Monthly mailingsThe front office mails one large envelope home each month. These mailingsinclude the Gordon Monthly, as well as other notices and letters from theschool. These consolidated mailings reduce the number of mailings sent homethroughout the year, and simplify household management for families.WeeklyThursday emailsOn Thursday evenings, Gordon sends out an email with any updates to theschool calendar, a review of the coming weeks’ events and other logisticalinformation of interest. Families can sign up for these messages by emailingnews@gordonschool.org.Website updatesEach week, Gordon also publishes This Week at Gordon, an online photo essaythat spotlights the work going on in Gordon’s classrooms. To browse throughthese essays, visit www.gordonschool.org.The website also includes a school wide calendar that lists everything on thewall calendar, as well as any changes and additions that have been made sincethat calendar was published.DailyBackpack noticesNotices from the school will be sent home occasionally with students. Familiesare encouraged to check children’s backpacks. Notices from the nurse are theonly notices printed on bright red paper.Athletic schedulesEach day’s sports schedule is available on the Sports Line at 401 434-3833x1903. The Athletic Director updates the outgoing message every school dayduring the sports seasons. In the case of inclement weather, the decision to cancelgames is always made by 1pm, and announced both on the Sports Line andon the website.Full athletic schedules are also on the website: game schedules for the entireupcoming season, as well as the coming week’s practice schedules.

PrivacyPrivacy and the directoryGordon provides the directory to support communication among householdson matters directly affecting students’ lives.Parents are urged not to allow the information in the book to be used outsideof the context of Gordon.The use of the names, addresses, emails, or phone numbers for any other purpose—howeverwell intentioned—undermines the school’s efforts to sustainopen, easy and effective communication among Gordon families.Privacy and the webGordon vigorously defends the online privacy of families.Students’ names are not used on the website. The only exceptions occur whena student is being mentioned in the context of an off campus activity, and theiridentity has already been made public through a press release or an appearancein the media.The private portion of the website is protected by the same security standardsused on the web sites of banks, email providers and online retailers. Parentsare also welcome to change the information in their profiles so that it cannot beviewed online.EmergenciesAll families fill out a form with emergency contact information that remainson file with the school. Copies go with chaperones whenever students leavecampus. Parents are responsible for keeping this information current; contactthe front desk if you have any questions in this regard.WInter stormsGordon has a simple policy for extreme weather:There are no delayed openings or early closings.If school is cancelled, the decision will be made by 5:30am and announcedshortly thereafter on radio and television.If school is not cancelled, classes will begin on time and the school will remainopen until the last child is picked up.When school is closed, all afterschool programs are cancelled as well.Bus riders should check for closures in their local school district. If local publicschools are closed, the bus will not be running.Crisis CommunicationGordon has an upgraded two-way radio system, secure doors during schoolhours, and ample medical evacuation supplies. A crisis planning team meetson a monthly basis to review established procedures and plan for regularschool-wide drills.Gordon uses a third-party notification service that sends telephone messagesto parents with important information about emergencies and timely announcements,including school cancellations due to inclement weather.The system is configured so that, when it is usedall of phone numbers listed in the school directory will be calledcaller IDs will display “411”the system will play a recorded message when the phone is answered.

A Gordon glossaryACTIVITY ROOMThe multipurpose space between the front office and the Lower School. Thisroom houses THE COFFEE POT, to which all adults are welcome to help themselves(snacks left on the kitchen counter are fair game as well).ADVISORYA group of seven to ten Middle School students and one adult (THE ADVISOR)that meet daily throughout the year.ANNUAL FUNDA fundraising drive in which parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of theschool contribute to Gordon’s annual budget. Every gift from a Gordon parent,no matter what the size, helps bring the Annual Fund to its goal of 100% parentparticipation.COMMON GROUNDA program offered to students who were identified as students of color bytheir parents on the school’s “Family Information” form. In Middle School,Common Ground meets during the school day, and Lower School CommonGround takes place after school.DIVISIONGordon is divided into three divisions: EARLY CHILDHOOD (Nursery,Preschool, Young Kindergarten and Kindergarten), LOWER SCHOOL (firstthrough fourth grades) and MIDDLE SCHOOL (fifth through eighth grades).ENDOWMENTAssets that are managed by Gordon’s Investment Committee. Gordon uses theinterest from these investments, but does not spend the principal.BRITT NELSON VISITING ARTISTEach year, Gordon invites a professionalartist to spend three weeks workingwith students. The residency is namedin memory of Britt Nelson, a parent ofthree Gordon graduates, and is fundedby an endowment fund established inher honor.C.J. BUCKLEY EXPERIENTIAL LEARN-ING NIGHTEach year in June, the eighth gradestudents spend an evening showcasingtheir service learning projects, and a seriesof speakers reflect on the role of experientiallearning in Gordon’s curriculum.This evening is held in memory ofa member of the class of 2000 for whomthe C.J. Buckley Experiential Learningendowed fund is named.Britt Nelson Visiting Artists1998 Painter Melissa Miller1999 Glass artist Ursula Huth2000 Storyteller and illustratorBaba Wagué Diakité2001 Architect Roddy Langmuir2002 Textile artist Jeung Hwa Park2003 Sculptor Allison Newsome2004 Sculptor Kitty Wales2005 Photographer Marian Roth2006 Puppeteers Dusan Petran andAniece Novak2007 Designer Gunnell Sahlin2008 Painter and printmaker JosephNorman2009 Sculptor Ben AndersonIllustrator Amy BartlettWrightIllustrator Julie Ann Collier2010 Illustrator Bert KitchenENDOWED FUNDS are portions of the endowment that are dedicated to a specificarea of school operations. These funds can be established in recognition ofa family, person, or graduating class with a minimum gift of $25,000.ENRICHMENTAn after school class run by Gordon as a supplement to the school’s curriculum.Enrichment classes follow the same three-season schedule as the MiddleSchool Athletics program.ERBS AND SSATSFifth, sixth and seventh graders take the Educational Records Bureau’sstandardized test, also known as “the ERBs,” each spring. In the fall of eighthgrade, students considering applying to independent high schools take theSSATs (the Secondary School Admission Test).FIRST CLASSGordon uses software called First Class for email and internal communication.Middle School students get accounts on this system to help them transfer filesbetween computers at school and at home.

GATORSGordon’s after school and vacation child care program. The after school programfor Middle School students is the Young Adult Place, or YAP. Studentssign in for Gators in THE GATORS ROOM, the large room between the NelsonField House and the activity room. Veterans might call this THE OLD GYM.GCAThe GORDON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is the school’s parent association.The work of this extremely active group is woven tightly into the life ofthe school, and all Gordon families benefit from the GCA’s fundraising andvolunteering efforts.GATOR GOURMETThe program that serves lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This program wasknown as HOT LUNCH for many years.IMMERSIONA period of at least one day in which a class’ regular schedule is set aside to focuson a single large scale project. The best-known example is the FLEX WEEKthat the fifth grade uses as the culmination of their study of ancient cultures.KEY CLUBMiddle School students who sign up to volunteer as tour guides for the AdmissionOffice.KINDERGARTEN GROUPSKindergarten faculty and students refer to their classroom groupings bycolors, not by the name of the classroom teacher. Ms. Motta’s class is YELLOWGROUP, Miss Sluss’ is GREEN GROUP, Ms. Parsons’ is RED GROUP and Ms.Toothaker’s is BLUE GROUP.

THE NELSON FIELD HOUSEThe Nelson Field House houses the Physical Education program as wellas Gordon’s after school athletics. THE ENTRY is the glassed-in entrance tothe Field House. It is often used for meetings, and is sometimes called THEATRIUM.OPEN CIRCLEA program in Kindergarten through fifth grade that meets twice a week. TheOpen Circle curriculum includes a series of discussions and role-playingactivities that teach students skills and vocabulary that enrich their social andemotional lives.PAC (Parent Action Committee)The Parent Action Committee is a group of parents from area independentschools (including Gordon) that organizes social events and educational programs.POSOC (Parents of Students of COlor)Parents of Students of Color is a group of Gordon parents that meets throughoutthe year to discuss the distinct issues, needs and experiences of students ofcolor who attend independent schools.THE WELLThe space with the high ceiling in the center of the Middle School building.YOUNG KINDERGARTENYoung Kindergarten is a program for children who turn five years old duringthe summer and early fall months. Students in this class have typically been ina preschool program the previous year, and go on to Kindergarten the followingyear.

Some annual highlightsOVERNIGHT FIELD TRIPSW. Alton JonesThe fifth grade spends one nightand two days at the EnvironmentalEducation Center at the Universityof Rhode Island’s W. Alton Jonescampus.Sargent CampThe sixth grade travels to NewHampshire for three days and twonights to attend a program run byBoston University. With a focus onactivities that instill teamwork, communicationand camaraderie, studentsparticipate in problem solvingchallenges, a ropes course and more.Briarwood Marine Science CenterRISD Museum of ArtThe seventh grade travels to BriarwoodMarine Science Center onCape Cod, where students kayak, dissect sharks, study crabs, set up their ownaquariums and study environmental issues like oil pollution and water quality.Farm SchoolThe eighth grade travels to the Farm School in Athol, Massachusetts for threedays and two nights, where students are responsible for daily chores that are apart of life on a working farm.Civil Rights TripRecent day trips included...Plimoth PlantationNew Bedford Whaling MuseumCaratunk Wildlife RefugeApeiron Institute for SustainableLivingFogland BeachMcCoy StadiumMystic Aquarium & Institute forExplorationSave the Bay CenterOld Sturbridge VillageThe eighth grade travels to Georgia and Alabama to conclude their study ofthe Civil Rights Movement. They visit historical sites, but it is the people theymeet that have the biggest impact; students spend time with veterans of the1950s and 1960s efforts, and meet community activists working for change inthe present day.

GCA BOOK FAIR - FALLThis is the GCA’s second largest fundraiser. Parents fill the Nelson Field Housewith loads of books, for children and adults alike. There is always at least oneauthor or illustrator on hand during the book fair.BATTLE OF THE BOOKS - APRILFourth graders are placed on teams with students from Lincoln School,Wheeler School, and St. Michael’s School to answer questions and test theirknowledge about what they have read.GRANDFRIENDS’ DAY - MAYADMISSION OPEN HOUSE - NOVEMBERHeld on the first Saturday in November, this morning event is designed forprospective families to visit, have a tour, talk with faculty, parents and students,meet the Head of School and learn about the admission process. Gordonfamilies volunteer their time to give tours and share their experiences ofGordon.ART SHOWSStudents from Kindergarten through eighth grade have their artwork ondisplay in the activity room for three days. This is an extraordinary exhibit thatshowcases the wonderful talents of the students.VISITING DAYS – JANUARYParents observe Lower and Middle School classes in session and attend a panelon the curriculum and student life at Gordon.ROOSTER GAMES - WINTERFifth graders from nearby schools join Gordon students for a morning ofimaginative challenges based on the books being considered for the RhodeIsland Children’s Book Award. Originated at Gordon, the Rooster Games nowhappen annually at schools throughout the state.Students invite grandparents, a family friend, or other members of their extendedfamilies to visit the school for a morning. Grandfriends attend a receptionwith student performances and a welcome from the Head of School, andthen go off for a morning of classes.Popsicle Days - Spring and FallGordon hosts newly admitted students for icy treats and unstructured playat the Mann Early Childhood Playground. These are promoted to the entireschool as a way to get to know the new faces.CARNIVAL - MAYThe GCA’s largest fundraiser transforms Gordon into a real carnival completewith amusement rides and games, pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo,food, ice cream and lots of excitement.FIELD DAY - LATE MAY OR EARLY JUNEField Day is traditionally held on a Friday near the end of the year with gamesorganized by the physical education department.

ANNUAL MEETING - JUNEA formal meeting at which the Head of School and leadership from the Boardof Trustees and the Gordon Community Association give their annual reports.Thank-yous, good-byes and recognitions are on the program as well, alongwith the presentation of the GCA’s annual gifts to the school. All are welcome.CLOSING ASSEMBLY - JUNEPrior to dismissal on the last day of school, the entire school gathers for a finalgood-bye to the graduating eighth grade class, an introduction for next year’seighth grade students and Student Leadership Council and a celebration of theschool year.COMMENCEMENT - JUNEThis tradition is a celebration of each graduating eighth grader and their families.Each student receives a diploma and a gift, both personalized to reflecttheir personality and their years at Gordon. Speakers include the Head ofSchool, a graduate and the student council president and vice president. Advisorsreflect on each student’s time at Gordon and read a quote that captures theessence of their students.

The Gordon DayGetting DressedThrough fourth grade:Students should have sneakers or other closed-toe shoes on during recess. Flipflopsand sandals are not suitable for climbing and thus are not permitted onthe playground equipment.Students do go outside throughout the winter months, and they should havewarm clothes with them at school in cold weather.During fall and spring, sunscreen should be applied before children aredressed.Good judgment is expected of all students. Teachers and staff will use theirdiscretion in determining whether or not an article of clothing is consideredappropriate. If a student’s attire is unacceptable, parents may be called to comepick up their child.All children must wear sneakers with non-marking soles for physical educationclasses.Middle School:The Middle School has a dress code created to teach students the proper schoolclothing for this community, to provide boundaries so that students showrespect for their own changing bodies, and to allow students to focus on schooland not be distracted by others’ inappropriate clothing, particularly clothingthat is overly revealing of students’ bodies.Specific expectations for Middle School students:Students should have sneakers or other closed-toe shoes on during recess. Flipflopsand sandals are not suitable for climbing and thus are not permitted onthe playground equipment.Hats are allowed in the hallways, at lunch and recess, and in any classes inwhich the teacher allows them. Hats must be removed in assemblies and inany class in which that is the teacher’s preference;Slogans on t-shirts should be appropriate and therefore should avoid wordsor pictures that are offensive, alcohol/drug-related, involve sexual references,etc.;Sleeveless shirts that cover the shoulder are allowed, but thin tank tops (oftenreferred to as “spaghetti straps”) are not allowed. No shirts that show belliesare allowed;Girls should not wear any top that shows cleavage; No student’s underwearshould be showing. Girls’ bra straps should not be visible. Underpants shouldnot be visible—for example, from low-riding pants;Skirts and shorts should come close to students’ knees. Even if a student iswearing leggings or tights, skirts or shorts still need to be the same length asthey would if the student were not wearing the leggings or tights;Students must change out of the clothes they wore to school and into shortsand a t-shirt for physical education classes. Students are also advised to bring asweatshirt and sweatpants for outdoor activities. Students may not wear theirgym clothes during the rest of the school day.Students who have questions should bring in the item ahead of time to show itto their advisor. If students have doubt, they should not wear the item in question.Any staff member who speaks with a student about her or his clothingwill make every effort to talk to the student in private about the concern so asnot to embarrass him or her.While context may lead to an alteration of this procedure, the protocol forMiddle School students not following the dress code is as follows:1. The student will change or cover up the clothing (extra clothing is availablein the Middle School office if necessary);2. The student’s advisor will be notified;3. The advisor will follow up with the student to be sure she or he is clearabout the concern;4. If the student has a second warning, the student’s parent(s) will be notified;5. If the student has a third warning, the Middle School Director will be notifiedand will follow up with the student and the parent(s).Health CheckWhen ill students attend school, they slow their own recovery and pose ahealth risk for their classmates.A student should not attend school if he or shehas been seen vomitinghas a fever of 100 degrees or higherhas diarrhea, persistent severe pain or severe cold symptoms.Children exhibiting any of these symptoms while at school will be senthome.

PACKING FOODEach student is expected to bring his or her own lunch to school. Refrigerationis not available. Only Middle School students have access to a microwave.Regular, skim, and low fat milk is supplied to all students, and water andplastic utensils are available. Bagels with butter or cream cheese are for saledaily for $1.The Gator Gourmet program prepares and serves lunch each Tuesday andThursday during the school year. There is a charge for these lunches. The lunchschedule is on the wall calendar available at Orientation in September.Early Childhood and Lower School students have snacks provided in themorning. A second snack is provided in the afternoon for Early ChildhoodMiddle School students may bring a snack from home to have during morningrecess.KEEPING PEANUT-FREEThere are students who are gravely allergic to peanuts, which puts them at arisk for a major reaction that may require emergency medical treatment.Parents are asked to carefully read and mark the ingredients of all foods sent into school, particularly foods sent to be shared in a classroom or for a bake sale.Early Childhood and the Friday Gators Program are peanut free zones. Studentsmay not bring any thing containing peanuts to these areas. Students whoarrive with, for example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich will be given abagel for lunch instead.Lower School and Middle School students are provided a peanut free table forlunches in the Activity Room. Students who sit at this table are not allowed tohave anything containing peanuts.The Gator Gourmet volunteers do everything they can to ensure that the foodsserved do not have peanuts, peanut oil or trace amounts. However, parentswho have any concerns about the ingredients of any product should send theirchild to school with what they know to be a safe lunch or snack.GETTING HEREBusing is available to all students who are at least five years old and wholive in Barrington, Bristol, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston,Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield or Warren. Thebus routes are made available in late August and bus passes are issued at orientation.If you have questions about busing, please speak to someone in theAdmission Office or Kim O’Donnell at the front desk.

The Admission Office organizes a meeting for families interested in carpooling,in early September.PARKING AND DROPPING OFFNew families should note that traffic congestion occurs at Gordon but does notlast long. By arriving even a few minutes before eight, families may find parkingand drop off much easier than it would be a few minutes after eight.For the safety of all students and adults, vehicles on campus should neverexceed five miles per hour.Parents wishing to walk their children into school are welcome to park alongthe street or in the school parking lot. Parents are responsible for keeping childrenon designated walkways.When parking in the Maxfield Avenue neighborhood, please be respectful ofneighbors’ lawns and driveway access. Always observe the posted 25-mile perhour speed limits.Parking is not allowed in front of the school—not in the inner circle noroutside the circle by the stone pillars. That area is a fire lane and must be keptclear at all times for emergency vehicles.Parents who remain in their vehicles during drop off should pull into thedriveway in front of the school. During the high traffic periods, staff will bepresent to direct traffic and keep the flow smooth and safe for all.7:15-8AM: EARLY ARRIVALSEarly Childhood and Lower School students may arrive any time after 7:15amand go directly to the Gator room. Children are supervised until 8am, whenLower School students are dismissed to go to their classrooms and EarlyChildhood students are walked to their classrooms.Middle School students who arrive between 7:15 and 8am must be droppedoff at the Nelson Field House, where they will be supervised. They are not allowedto enter the Middle School before 8am.This coverage of early arrivals is free of charge.8-8:15AM: CLASSROOMS OPENClassrooms open at 8am, and school begins at 8:15am. Parents of Early Childhoodand Lower School students are urged to bring their children a few minutesbefore the 8:15 bell to ensure a smooth start of the day for everyone.AFTER 8:15AM: LATE ARRIVALSEarly Childhood students who arrive after 8:15am must have a parent orguardian sign them in at the front desk.

Lower School students who arrive after 8:15am may sign themselves in at thefront desk, or have a parent do it.Middle School students should go directly to advisory if they arrive between8:15am and 8:30am, or sign themselves in at the front desk if they arrive past8:30am.BY 9AM: REPORTING ABSENCESIf a student is absent from school, the parents must call the front desk before9am on the day of the absence. If the school has not been informed of a child’sabsence, the parent will be called to verify the nature of the absence.To leave a message for the front desk outside of school hours, dial 401 434-3833and press 9.BEFORE NOON: REQUESTING HOMEWORKWhen a parent calls in a student’s absence, they may request that the student’shomework assignments be made available to them. Homework may then bepicked up at the front desk between 3:15 and 4:15pm. Parents are asked tomake homework requests before noon.11:45AM: EARLY CHILDHOOD HALF DAYDismissal for half-day students in Early Childhood is 11:45am. On Fridays, allof Early Childhood is dismissed at 11:45am, except on those Fridays when theentire school is dismissed at noon.3:15PM (2PM FRIDAYS): DISMISSALLower School and Middle School dismissal is at 3:15. Early Childhood dismissalfor full-day students is also at 3:15, except Fridays when all Early Childhoodstudents are dismissed at 11:45am.Students who are picked up at dismissal wait with their teachers in the front ofthe school or in the activity room with their teachers.Students must be picked up by one of the adults named on the Authorizationfor Pickup Form that is on file for every Gordon student, and remain in thatadult’s care until they leave the campus. Gordon staff reserve the right to checkthe identification of any adult before dismissing a student into their care.Adults are asked not to pick up their children in the classrooms as it disruptsclassroom routines.Families are welcome to bring their children to the Nursery playground andpond area after school. The Kindergarten and Lower School playgrounds arereserved solely for the use of the Gators program until 5pm.Students who remain at school after dismissal must check in at the front deskand then go to Gators or YAP. If parents or caregivers know they are going tobe a few minutes late, they are encouraged to call the front desk.3:30-5:30PM: AFTER SCHOOLStudents who remain at school after dismissal must be under an adult’s supervision.Extended day care is available for every child, for a fee, until 5:30pm.Gordon has a number of programs that run between 3:30 and 5:30pm that offereach student safe, positive and age-appropriate ways to spend the afternoon.Gators and YAP are the core of the after school programs, covering all of thegrades, every day that the school building is open.To insure proper supervision, students will report to Gators or YAP when waitingbefore or after another after school program.The rules and policies outlined in the Gordon Handbook apply during thehours after dismissal as well. This includes the prohibition of students possessingcell phones, iPods and electronic games.Students must be picked up by one of the adults named on the Authorizationfor Pickup Form that is on file for every Gordon student. Gordon staff reservethe right to check the identification of any adult before dismissing a studentinto their care.All students must be signed out by a parent or guardian with a Gators or YAPstaff member. YAP students may also be signed out by a parent or guardian inthe front office.BY 5:30PM: EVERYONE HOMEUnless they have taken the bus home, every student must be picked up by oneof the responsible adults named on their Authorization for Pickup form.Adults picking up children can park and walk up to the waiting child, orremain in their car in the school’s driveway, where school staff will be on handto manage traffic flow and safety.

The world of parking at GordonVincentAvenueHazardStreetNo parking on this side of Maxfield, by lawDo not block neighbors’ drivewaysMaxfield AvenueNo parking here 45 minutes before dismissalBusy crosswalkBusy crosswalkFire hydrantNo parking ten feet from cornersanywhere on MaxfieldParking at Gordon is asafety issue. With adultsand children hustling toand fro throughout theday, it is imperative thatdrivers keep visibilitylines open and crosswalksclear.Traffic congestion atGordon is limited to twoor three short burstsduring the day. Parentsare reminded that evena small adjustment intheir routine can makea big difference. Parkingat five minutesbefore 8am, for instance,is very different fromparking at five minutesafter 8am.ReservedField House entranceMaintenance accessforhandicappedpermitsBusycrosswalkNo parkingLoading andunloading onlyMaxfield Avenue,Vincent Avenue andHazard Street are notextensions of Gordon’scampus; they are publicstreets.Cars must leave ten feetclearance around drivewaysand corners, justas they would in anyother part of this residentialneighborhood.No parking incrosswalkNo parkingLoading and unloading only

Centennial Celebration WeekendFriday, October 8th, 6-8pmCollege Reunion NightA night out for college-aged alumni, at Dave andBusters in the Providence Place MallSaturday, October 9thCentennial FestivalAn outdoor celebration for current and formerGordon families, faculty and friendsSunday, October 10thCelebration of the Century: 10.10.10A time to rediscover Gordon’s past and look forward to a new century ofprogressive educationwww.gordonschool.org/centennial