2010–2011 lower school parent handbook - Milton Academy

2008–2009MIDDLE2008–20092010–2011SCHOOLSTUDENTMIDDLE LOWERHANDBOOKSCHOOLSTUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK

Lower School Calendar, 2010–2011 2I. Welcome 3Welcome 4Milton Academy Mission 4Lower School Philosophy and Core Values 4Diversity in the K–8 Division: A Statement of Values and Goals 5II. Communication 6How Parents Can Communicate to the School 7How We Communicate to Parents 8Web-based News and Information 10Media Relations 10III. Traveling to School and Attendance 11Traveling to School 12Arrival and Drop-Off 12Campus Map 13Dismissal and Pick-up 14Late Pick-up 15Attendance and Extended Vacations 15IV. School Programs and Culture 16Assemblies 17Birthdays and Other Celebrations 17Buddies 17Cell Phones 17Class Bake Sales 18Clothing and Dress Guidelines 18Community Meetings for Students 18Events 18Expectations, Rules and Discipline 19Extended Day and After School Programs 19Field Trips 20Food 21Gifts for Teachers 21Homework 21Incidental Account Charges 22Libraries 22Lost and Found 22Personal Possessions 22Pets on Campus 22Recess 22V. Resources 23Health and Wellness 24K–8 Admission 25Academic Support Services 26K–8 Parents’ Association 28myMilton 29Enrollment Procedures 29Institutional Advancement and the Annual Fund 29table ofcontents1

WELCOMEIWelcomeMilton Academy MissionLower School Philosophy and Core ValuesDiversity in the K–8 Division: A Statement ofValues and Goals3

IwelcomeWelcomeWelcome to the Lower School at Milton Academy. As students move throughGrades K–5 in the Junior Building and Greenleaf Hall, they engage in a vigorous,rich and complex program that develops their academic, creative and interpersonalskills. Teachers and administrators committed to the elementary yearsproudly teach the whole child in developmentally appropriate ways. Within theK–8 division and the K–12 Academy, Lower School students and faculty benefitfrom experiences and ties with students of all ages. Our community is closeknitand respectful; all students are known closely by peers and adults alike.Within this supportive network, students are encouraged to take risks, solveproblems, and collaborate, learning what it means to “Dare to be True.”This Lower School Parent Handbook includes information about the LowerSchool, and acts as a guide and resource for you. As a reference, it shouldanswer questions as they arise. As a guide, it provides the School’s expectations,and the names of people who can help you.Please read the Handbook carefully, and revisit it throughout the year to becomefamiliar with the Lower School.Milton Academy MissionMilton Academy cultivates in its students a passion for learning and a respectfor others. Embracing diversity and the pursuit of excellence, we create a communityin which individuals develop competence, confidence, and character.Our active learning environment, in and out of the classroom, develops creativeand critical thinkers unafraid to express their ideas, prepared to seek meaningfullifetime success, and to live by our motto, “Dare to be true.”Lower School Philosophy and Core ValuesMilton Academy Lower School believes that children and adults learn bestin a nurturing environment that is safe, joyful, and intellectually challenging.Developmental and academic considerations shape decisions about curriculum,organization, and day-to-day life throughout the School. Students and teachersengage in a wide spectrum of activities that balance individual and cooperativelearning. They are encouraged to take risks, to learn from their mistakes, andto understand and enjoy the process of learning. Acceptance and celebration ofdifferences are integral parts of the K–8 experience. Above all, the communityvalues respect and kindness to others.We believe that:• creativity is essential to success and developing creativity requires practice;making original, personal statements is a fundamental element of ourcurriculum.• problem solving and mastering skills is rewarding and joyous; competencecalls for effort, logic, and perseverance, and setbacks are part of theprocess.• not all accomplishment is measurable, and achievement should beassessed by the degree to which children grow in confidence and competence.• often the root of a powerful intellectual experience is the relationship withmentors, teachers, and peers. Being cared for allows growth; being caringis a basic life skill.• recognizing each person’s voice is crucial, as is valuing the collectiveexpressions and contributions of a group.• diversity of beliefs, practices, and backgrounds enriches us and opensnew ways of knowing, helping us think deeply about what we might otherwisetake for granted.• by forming trusting relationships with adults and classmates, childrencan develop the confidence to take risks, trust their feelings, and respondcourageously when their viewpoints are uncommon or unpopular.• responsibility for one’s work is a lifelong value; we must accept the consequencesfor choices about how we allocate our time.4

• effective teaching requires thoughtful, regular conversation among students,teachers, and parents.• teachers are curriculum developers; curriculum is active, interdisciplinary,flexible, and rich.Diversity in the K–8 Division: A Statement of Values andGoalsIn the K–8 division at Milton Academy, we value our differences as well as oursimilarities. Acceptance and celebration of differences are integral parts of theK–8 experience. We recognize that heightening our awareness about issues ofdiversity, as they relate to our parents and children, our faculty, our curriculum,our admission work, and our day-to-day lives at School requires our ongoingcommitment.Through a variety of means, including constructive and open discourse, wework with families to create a community that builds upon its history andstrives for inclusivity in all its dimensions. We aspire to be:• a School where all children may broaden their view of others and themselvesby encountering mirrors of their own background and experienceas well as windows of difference.• a School that fosters an open-minded appreciation of the commonalitiesand differences evident in the K–8 and the broader community. Weexpect our children to learn respect and acceptance of many forms ofdiversity including, but not limited to, race or ethnicity, socio-economicstatus, religion, gender, national origins, family composition, sexualorientation, physical or psychological difference, and political affiliation.Students come to understand and support the notion that “Everyone IsOne of Us.”• a School where students are encouraged to be involved and active citizensof their immediate community and the wider world community by seekingto question and counter various forms of prejudice.welcomeI5

How Parents Can Communicate to the SchoolPhone NumbersMilton Academy Switchboard 617–898–1798Todd Bland, Head of School 898–2200Marshall Carter, K–8 Principal 898–2550Junior Building LeadGretchen Larkin, K–8 Curriculum Coordinator 898–2338Greenleaf Building LeadWill Crissman, Middle School Dean 898–2322Ware Building LeadKristin Corbin, K–8 Director of Admission 898-2510Joan Abramson, Lower School Counselor 898–2931Nancy Stawarky, K–2 Literacy Specialist 898–2514Krista Demas, Learning Specialist 898–2298Maria Rogers, Junior Building Office 898–2516Judy Constanti, K–8 Office & Greenleaf Hall 898–2551Jacqui Pennini, Middle School Office & Ware Hall 898–2368Diane Hutchison, After School Program Director 898–2513Health Services 898–2450/51/56Nurse’s Beeper Number 617–473–1431K–8 Office Fax Number 898–2505Junior Building Fax Number 898–1707Campus Safety 898–2911Building LeadsThe building lead is an administrator who supports and guides each of thethree main K-8 buildings. The building lead acts as a resource for parents, andcan help answer questions about your children, their teachers, the calendar,the academic program and the community within each building. They are thepeople to contact for any building specific questions or issues. The buildingleads are:• Junior Building (grades K–2): Principal Marshall Carter• Greenleaf Hall (grades 3–5): Curriculum Coordinator Gretchen Larkin• Ware Hall (grades 6–8): Middle School Dean Will CrissmanChange of Contact InformationPlease send all changes of family contact information to Milton Academy viamail, email or voicemail, using the following addresses:• Mail: Address Updatesc/o ATS DepartmentMilton Academy170 Centre StreetMilton, MA 02186• Email: Address_Update@Milton.edu• Voicemail: 617–898–2929Contacting StudentsFor important messages to students during the day, telephone the appropriatebuilding office.• For students in the Junior Building call 617–898–2516.• For students in Greenleaf call 617–898–2551.If you need to deliver something to your child during the school day, pleaseleave it in the building’s front office rather that taking it to your child’s classroom.In grades 3–5, items may also be placed in the student’s cubby.Messages to FacultyThe School’s main number reaches an automated system that offers certainaccess information. If you know the extension you would like to reach, youmay dial that number directly.communicationII7

IIcommunicationAll teachers have voice mailboxes which you can access through the Schoolswitchboard (617–898–1798). You may also email teachers, using the followingaddress format: firstname_lastname@milton.edu.MailSend faculty mail to 170 Centre Street, Milton, MA 02186, where it will bedelivered to the faculty member’s mailbox.Student use of School TelephonesWith permission from a teacher and the administrative assistant in the building,students may use a school telephone to call home.Emergency CommunicationsTo contact Campus Safety in case of emergency, dial 2911 from any campustelephone, or dial 617–898–2911 from any other telephone. Calls to this numberwill be answered by a Campus Safety officer 24 hours a day.Dial 911 from any campus telephone to reach outside emergency services.Dialing “7” first is not necessary when contacting outside emergency services. Ifa situation merits a 911 call, please call Milton Academy Campus Safety as well.In the case of a national, state or local emergency, the School will communicatewith parents through email, messages on the School’s main telephonenumber (617–898–1798), Web site announcements, and radio and televisionannouncements. The School will also use Alert–Now, an emergency notificationsystem that provides the ability to send voice messages to students and theirfamilies instantaneously in the event of a School-wide emergency. In the eventof a national, state or local emergency, family and friends should not call theCampus Safety extension, as that line should be kept free for on-campus communication.How We Communicate to ParentsCommunication between School and home is vitally important. We each haveimportant perspectives and pieces of information about your child. Sharingwhat we know about your child as a learner is as important as learning aboutwho your child is at home.We have a number of important vehicles designed to communicate with you:• Lower School Parent Handbook• Parent representatives for each grade• Host families for new children• K–8 Parents’ Association open meetings which occur regularly and arealways open to anyone interested• Curriculum and Child/Parent Nights• The annual Fireside Chat with the Head of School and K–8 Principal• Two parent conference days for Greenleaf parents, three for JuniorBuilding parents• Written progress reports• Milton Magazine, the School’s alumni magazine• The Milton Academy Web site (www.milton.edu)• Classroom newsletters• Specific grade level events, such as introducing The Farm School toparents of third-grade students, and Human Sexuality and Relationshipseducation to fifth-grade families• Classroom visits• Weekly assemblies• Curriculum pieces by the principal or staff• Web-based, electronic news on Milton’s K–8 site• Notes home from teachers8

Cancellation of SchoolIn the event that School is cancelled or delayed because of weather conditions,parents, students and faculty may learn of this decision by checking the MiltonWeb site, calling the School switchboard beginning at 6 a.m., or by listening tothe following radio and TV stations: WBZ 1030 AM and WCVB–TV5.Classroom VisitsParents of children in Kindergarten–Grade 2 are invited to visit classrooms fora portion of the morning. Classroom visits begin in early November and end inmid-April. This timing gives us the ability to set up class routines in the fall andbring closure at the end of the year. Sign-up opportunities are provided by theindividual classroom teachers. Parent visits provide a clear message about howmuch we value our partnership. Our goals for these visits are:• to give you a context and vocabulary for what your children are experiencingwhen they talk with you about School.• to allow you to see how your child functions in the classroom.• to show you what it means to have a progressive classroom setting andcurriculum.• to give evidence of how much learning takes place, because young childrengenerally do not have a “paper trail.”• to communicate, through your direct experience, the role that good teachersplay in the growth and development of children.Curriculum NightIn the early fall, a general discussion of the course of study and an opportunityto meet and talk with faculty is provided to parents at each grade level. Parentsare urged to attend in order to gain an understanding of the curriculum, goals,and expectations for the year. This evening is also a wonderful opportunity tomake or renew acquaintances with other parents and meet your child’s teachers.Parent–Child NightGenerally, during this evening in early-May, children, with the guidance of theirteachers, have the opportunity to share their work and culminating projects aswell as demonstrate their knowledge.Parent–Teacher Conferences & Progress ReportsWe have enhanced our conference and progress report program to providemore timely and thorough information. We have increased the number of conferencesfor Grades K–2 parents. Additionally, we are giving specialist teachers(who teach your children less frequently) sufficient time to gather informationbefore reporting progress to you.Close communication about your child’s progress begins when you complete asummer online document called the “Parental Response Form” (formerly knownas “the salmon sheet” for its pink color). Teachers carefully read these in preparationfor the school year. Parental insights and the teacher’s emerging knowledgeof your child are discussed at your parent conference in early October.Regular communication about your child’s progress continues in December.Parents of students in Grades K–2 have a conference with the homeroom teacher,documented in a written conference report. Parents in Grades 3–5 receivecomprehensive written reports. Parents of all K–5 students also receive theirfirst written reports from specialist teachers in December.In mid-February, parents of all K–5 students have conferences documented by afollow-up conference report.At the end of the school year, parents of all children in Grades K–5 receivecomprehensive written reports from all teachers. We make every attempt todeliver these reports before the end of school to allow for follow-up conversationsbefore summer vacation.Please consult the calendar at the front of this Handbook for this year’sconference dates. Written reports are made available to parents via theircommunicationII9

IIcommunicationmyMilton accounts. Students do not receive letter grades. Classes are in sessionfor students in both buildings on conference days.Apart from these formal opportunities for communication, teachers and parentsare well served when they communicate as needs arise. We will let you know ifwe are observing unusual or changed patterns at School, and it is very importantthat you notify us when anything unusual happens at home or in the closefamily environment. Occurrences such as illness, separation, death, or changeof employment can be difficult or influential for children. We are in a muchbetter position to be of assistance if we are kept well-informed. Please notify theSchool if you plan to be away from your children for any length of time.Web-based News and InformationThrough the interactive, Web-based K–8 calendar you can select for eventsmost pertinent to your child and find complete, timely information regardingthese events. Please visit the K–8 calendar frequently at http://www.milton.edu/calendar/k8.An enhanced K–8 News portion of the Milton Academy Web site has replacedthe Thursday Bulletin and the Middle School Bulletin. Updated multiple timeseach week, you’ll find important announcements as well as fresh news itemsabout life in K–8. Please bookmark K–8 News on your computer: http://www.milton.edu/calendar/k8/newsMedia RelationsOccasionally members of our School community come into contact with themedia regarding School-related issues. Cathy Everett, director of communications,should be informed of any contact with the media at its onset. In the caseof a “newsworthy” event, the director of communications serves as the spokespersonfor the community to the media.Pictures on the WebsiteMany people visit our Web site every day: prospective teachers, applicants,indivduals who want to know what a good school is doing. We would like theK–8 site to be representative of who we are and what we value. We will try toput on current information and children’s work. Digital cameras allow us totake photos of work in process, and we hope to use these photos as well. Wewill not identify children by name in the photos. We hope that you will trustour judgment and want to help us portray the School through the medium thatbest represents us: your children’s learning. We do not exercise this right lightlyand will think carefully about what we make available on the Web.10

T r av e l i n g t oS c h o o l a n dA t t e n da n c eIIITraveling to SchoolArrival and Drop-offCampus MapDismissal and Pick-upLate Pick-upAttendance and Extended Vacation11

IIItravelingtoschoolTraveling to School• Bicycles/Scooters and Walking to SchoolWe support children riding bikes to school, with permission from theSchool and parents. Bikes should be walked on campus and stored inbike racks. Scooters should also be closed and carried when on campus.• CarpoolsThe primary form of transportation for K–8 students is the family carpool,and families living outside of Milton are encouraged to seek acarpool from their hometowns. Parents are encouraged to use the MiltonAcademy directory to find other families who live in their area.• Other TransportationFamilies residing in Milton may pursue transportation on Town of Miltoncontracted buses by contacting First Student, Inc., 781-961-3824. TheK–8 offices are unable to help with this matter. Children who are notassigned to ride a Milton bus may not accompany a friend on that bus.We recognize that transportation to School may pose challenges tofamilies, especially those who do not live in Milton or a nearby town.Administrators are always happy to discuss and assist you with identifyingtravel options.Buses contracted for the purpose of transporting Middle and UpperSchool students from outside Milton to campus are not intended to beused by K–5 students. The safety of our young students, at the bus stopand on the bus, is at the core of this guideline.Arrival and Drop-OffThe Lower School buildings open at 8 a.m. Supervised morning drop-off beginsat 7:45 a.m., and children should arrive at School between 7:45 and 8 a.m.Students arriving after 8:10 a.m. should proceed directly to the appropriatebuilding office to sign in. This allows the School to keep accurate attendance/tardiness records. Tardiness and absences appear on progress reports.Junior BuildingAt morning drop-off, you are invited to wait with your child until the doorsto the Junior Building are open. We welcome your presence in Lower Schoolbuildings; once morning meetings have begun it is best to make a quiet departure,letting children focus on their classroom community.If you come into the building, please park in a legal parking space in eitherlot adjacent to the building, or along the driveway that leads to the campus.Note that the row of spaces along the field in the Junior Building parking lotis reserved for faculty and staff. Also, be mindful of our neighbors who live incampus housing adjacent to the Junior Building.A “Kiss and Drop” zone is provided at the curb directly in front of the JuniorBuilding. Parking is prohibited in this area.Greenleaf HallThree sites are appropriate drop-off locations for students entering GreenleafHall: the Pool Lot, the “Rock,” and the Ware Loop. You are invited to just dropyour child off or to park and walk your child into the building.The Pool Lot provides a path that leads directly to Greenleaf Hall. The trafficpattern in this lot is one-way in a counter-clockwise direction. Students can bedropped off at the entrance to the path just inside the lot.The “Rock” is across from the Pritzker Science Center and along the path toGreenleaf, behind Kellner Hall. No vehicles travel on this path during drop-off.Just in front of Ware Hall, there is a loop specifically for drop-off and pick-up.Greenleaf Hall is immediately behind Ware Hall. Families with children in theMiddle or Upper Schools often find this a convenient “one-stop” drop-off site.For safety reasons, drop-off on Randolph Avenue along the side of Greenleafor in the entrance to the circle is strictly prohibited. Beginning in 2010–2011,there is no longer a staircase from Randolph Avenue to the Greenleaf circle.12

travelingtoschoolCampus MapIIIA: Drop-off and pick-up for Greenleaf students only is at the “Pool Lot,” accessed viaRandolph Avenue.B: Drop-off and pick-up for families with children in the Junior Building or withchildren in both the Junior Building and Greenleaf, is at the loop in front of theJunior Building, accessed via Centre Street.C: Drop-off and pick-up for Middle School students is in Ware Loop, accessed viaCentre Street.13

IIItravelingtoschoolDismissal and Pick-upSchool ends at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and at noon on Friday. At thebeginning of the school year, parents indicate their pick-up preferences (individualpick-up, carpool, After School, etc). Any changes to your child’s regulardismissal plan should be communicated with the School by calling or emailingthe office in the appropriate building: Maria Rogers at x2516 for the JuniorBuilding, Judy Constanti at x2551 for Greenleaf.Children who are not going directly home in their usual manner must providea note to the homeroom teacher on that day. This policy applies to children inboth buildings. Transportation arrangements should be specified. If transportationproblems arise, please consult with the building offices to make specialarrangements for your child.One of the hallmarks of the School’s culture is looking your teacher in the eyeand shaking hands with him or her at the end of the day. This ritual begins inKindergarten and continues through Grade 5. A firm handshake imprints theclosure experience and is a valuable lifelong skill for children.Please note that Lower School buildings and facilities on campus are not availableto Lower School students after the end of the school day. Students who liveon campus, and their friends, must have parental supervision on-site in order touse any indoor or outdoor facilities after school hours.Junior BuildingChildren are escorted by their teachers to the sidewalk area just past the JuniorBuilding, and across from the Pritzker Science Center. There, they are joinedby students from Greenleaf Hall to await pick-up. Cars form a line along thesidewalk and in front of the Junior Building to await dismissal. Teachers guidestudents to their appropriate cars. When cars are loaded, they can depart followingthe traffic pattern. Junior Building students are dismissed to cars that areparked along the path between their exit from the building and their waitinglocation. Should such families choose to depart immediately, they can proceedslowly through the parking lot aisle closest to the Pritzker Science Center. Carsthat have already passed this fork must wait for the line to advance ahead. Forobvious safety reasons, backing up, cutting around other cars in the line, andleaving parked cars unattended are strictly prohibited.Greenleaf HallThere are two pick-up options for children at the close of School: the Pool Lotor the “Rock.”The Pool Lot:This location is for families picking up children from Greenleaf Hall. Carsform a line following the counter-clockwise traffic pattern of the lot. Childrenassemble at the Greenleaf circle and faculty then escort the children to the lotand around the perimeter, dismissing children into waiting cars. Any remainingchildren await pick-up at the far end of the lot, supervised by faculty. To exit,please proceed along the traffic pattern.The “Rock”:Families picking up children from both the Junior Building and Greenleaf Hallwill use this pick-up location. Students from the Junior Building join studentsfrom Greenleaf Hall in the sidewalk area adjacent to the fields. Students are dismissedto the cars awaiting children for pick-up.The following are NOT permitted pick-up options:• Parking in the faculty and staff lot across the street from Greenleaf Halland meeting your child in the lobby of Greenleaf.• Meeting your child in front of Ware Hall.• Picking up your child from anywhere on Randolph Avenue.14

Late Pick-upIf you or your authorized carpool driver is running late, please call the JuniorBuilding or Greenleaf office. Generally, children will be escorted to After Schoolif their ride has not arrived by 3:20 (12:20 on Fridays).Attendance and Extended VacationsRegular daily attendance is essential if students are to participate fully in academiclife and in the activities of the School. On days when a student must beabsent because of illness, a parent must telephone the School’s automated attendanceline between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. to report the absence. From the mainphone number (617-898-1798), choose option 2 twice in succession. To phonethe number directly, call 617-898-2160.With parent support, students are responsible for their class work and assignmentsduring any absence, whatever the reason. When possible, students inolder grades can call a friend for missed assignments or to make arrangementsfor assignments to be brought home. In cases of extended absence, please contactyour child’s teacher.Given the dynamic and interactive nature of Lower School classrooms, webelieve that nothing can take the place of a student’s physical presence. Thus,we urge parents to plan all family vacations and medical or other appointmentsoutside of School hours.A few families take vacations to coincide with the break in public schools, afamily event, or a work schedule that cannot be altered. We strongly discouragethis, though we are aware that sometimes there may be important reasons whyfamilies make this choice. Please do not ask teachers to put together work or tomake up work with your child. Your vacation should not place extra demandson the faculty. As always, journal writing and reading are good things for yourchild to do while away from School.travelingtoschoolIII15

S c h o o lP r o g r a m sa n dC u lt u r eIVAssembliesBirthdays and Other CelebrationsBuddiesCell PhonesClass Bake SalesClothing and Dress GuidelinesCommunity Meetings for StudentsEventsExtended Day and After School ProgramsField TripsFoodGifts for TeachersHomeworkIncidental Account ChargesLibrariesLost and FoundPersonal PossessionsPets on CampusRecess16

AssembliesK–5 Assemblies are typically scheduled for Friday mornings at 11 a.m.Assembly activities may include an all-School sing-a-long, a skit, improvisationalreadings, student reports on classroom projects, performances by visitingartists, or specialists in a given field. Parents are always welcome and shouldcheck the online School calendar for location or time changes.• Videotaping of Assemblies: We ask you to enjoy assemblies and productionswithout the encumbrance of a video recorder. Videotaping putsundue pressure on productions to rise from work-in-progress to polishedproduct. We recognize there are occasionally good reasons to preservesomething, to share with other parents or relatives, or to capture milestones.Please be as unobtrusive as possible. Arrangements have beenmade for high-quality taping of major events. Parents will be notifiedwhen the School holds a duplicable recording of a production. A smallcharge may be required to cover the cost of an outside professional orduplication services.Birthdays and Other CelebrationsBirthdays are an important day in a child’s life. Families often provide birthdaytreats to commemorate their child’s special day. When providing treats, pleaseprovide enough for the entire grade as well as several adults. Make arrangementswith the class parent representative or teacher ahead of time, and pleaseremember that treats should be nut-free; check with your child’s teacher aboutfood allergies in the class.Although birthday parties are a home event, we ask that you remember thatyour family is part of the Milton community. We work hard to create a positiveclassroom community for every child. Please join us in our efforts to create apositive and respectful community:• If a student is planning a birthday party outside of regular school hours,please be sensitive to the feelings of classmates. Parties that include eitherall the boys, all the girls, or the entire class are strongly encouraged.Parties at which one or two children have been excluded inevitably leadto hurt feelings that negatively impact social dynamics at School.• Send invitations by the U.S. Postal Service, email, or other appropriatemeans. No invitations may be brought to School for distribution.• Do not send birthday presents to School.• Discourage children from discussing birthday parties at School.• Birthday parties should not leave directly from School. They can be a disruptionto the class, and there can be hurt feelings.• Parents of children whose birthdays fall during a vacation or on a nonschoolday may make arrangements with the class parent representativeor teacher to celebrate their child on a mutually agreed upon day.Occasionally, there are other class celebrations: 100th Day, Problem of theWeek, a goodbye party, etc. Advanced planning assures that these events arespread out over a reasonable time period.BuddiesMany classrooms in the Lower School have “buddy” programs pairing older andyounger students, based on our belief that children of different ages learn muchfrom one another and enjoy each other’s company. Students in Kindergarten arepaired with students in Grade 5. Students in Grades 1 and 2 are paired withGrade 6 Reading Buddies. In Grade 4, Upper School students work regularly asteacher aides and mentors.Cell PhonesIf you are visiting School, in a classroom or at an assembly, please turn yourcell phone off. It is distracting to the children and teachers to be interrupted bythe phone. We hope that you will agree that barring active cell phones from theSchool will result in a more pleasurable and focused experience for all involved.Students should not have active cell phones during the school day.schoolprogramsandcultureIV17

IVschoolprogramsandcultureClass Bake SalesTeacher-approved bake sales are a limited yet successful part of Lower Schoolstudents’ lives, both from the point of view of raising money for a cause andfrom the point of view of having an occasional special snack. If your child is onthe ‘selling’ side of a bake sale, we encourage you to safely supervise your childas he or she does as much of the baking as possible. If your child is on the‘buying’ side of a bake sale, we encourage the child to use a reasonable amountof his or her allowance or personal money to purchase goods in order to understandthe benefits of supporting a cause.Clothing and Dress GuidelinesWe share parents’ desire for children to be neat, clean, appropriate, and comfortable.Milton Academy does not have a formal dress code. We expect thatchildren will wear clothing that allows them to concentrate on being students.Clothing should not be distracting to the learning environment and shouldallow for vigorous play and focused involvement in projects that might involveglue, paint, etc.Students should use the following guidelines when dressing for the School day:• no flip–flop sandals• no hats or bandanas worn inside buildings• no spaghetti straps, off-the-shoulder or strapless tops, undershirts, shirtswith bare midriffs, or inappropriately revealing clothing• no underclothing may be visible• no clothing with words, writing, or imagery deemed by teachers andadministrators to be disrespectful or inappropriate for young children in alearning environment• no slogans across the rear of pants• sneakers are required for physical education class, and a pair must bekept at School.• Junior Building students should have an extra set of clothing at School:shoes or sneakers, in addition to a PE pair, socks, shirt and pants. Allclothing should be labeled; extra clothing will be kept in a bag or box onthe child’s closet shelf.• jackets, snowpants, boots, hats, and gloves/mittens are required for studentsin the winter months so that they can take advantage of the fields ofsnow and sledding.• for special events, such as School concerts and field trips, teachers willprovide information about event-specific appropriate dress. On field tripswhere students are guests of another school or institution, student clothingshould be respectful of our hosts and represent Milton Academy well.Community Meetings for StudentsEach building has a community meeting. The Junior Building generally meetson Tuesday mornings and Greenleaf Hall meets on Wednesday mornings. JuniorBuilding meetings are planned and run by faculty members. Greenleaf Hallmeetings are planned and run by fifth-grade students. Community meetings arelow-key events limited to students and faculty. Parents are included only whenthey are visiting for the morning as a scheduled “student for the day.”EventsThere are many special events in the life of the Lower School, the K–8 Division,and Milton Academy K–12. These include the Summer Reading Book Assembly,Swap-It, the All-School Veterans’ Day Flagpole Ceremony, the ThanksgivingCelebration in Apthorp Chapel, the Book Fair, Field Day, the Martin LutherKing, Jr. Assembly, the Grade 5 Play, the Middle Eastern Fair, the Grade 3 tripto the Farm School, Grandfriends’ Day, the Halloween Parade, Potluck Dinners,See You in September Picnic, and the Skating Party. Specific dates, times andlocations are provided on the online K–8 calendar.18

Expectations, Rules and DisciplineOver time, Milton Academy teachers and students have developed standards ofconduct fundamental to the education that the School provides. Rules, boundariesand guidelines have evolved to protect individual students from behaviorthat is not healthy or safe for them, to foster the cohesion and morale of thecommunity, and to enhance education by discouraging barriers to learning.We expect the cooperation of parents in upholding our standards. We believethat the parents and the Academy share the task of establishing the right balanceof freedom and responsibility, realistically and consistently, for youngpeople.We recognize that students make mistakes and hope that they will learn fromthem. If necessary, teachers and administrators can assign consequences withcompassion and firmness, toward the goal of fostering habits of self-awareness,self-discipline and respect. We do not operate a system of strictly automaticresponses, believing that discipline should take into account, as far as thewelfare of the community will allow, such factors as the needs and age of theindividual student, previous behavior, and the circumstances of the problemcausingbehavior.If a student’s behavior is found to be unsatisfactory, conversations will occuramong the classroom teacher, student, and parents to provide feedback on howthe student can grow and improve, in developmentally and age-appropriateways. Continued unsatisfactory behavior may result in a loss of privileges ordisciplinary actions. The School reserves the right to dismiss any student whosebehavior or lack of cooperation is deemed unacceptable, or whose parents nolonger have a cooperative relationship with the School, in the judgment of theHead of School.Ultimately, we value and seek to create a community where respectful studentsactively promote the physical and emotional safety of themselves and others byexhibiting integrity, whole-hearted cooperation, and respect for property.Extended Day and After School ProgramsKindergarten Extended Day ProgramAn Extended Day Program is available for Kindergarten children on Mondayand Wednesday afternoons from noon to 3:05 p.m. when School is in session.Children bring their own lunches. Milk and juice are provided. Theprogram features a balanced schedule of activities and is staffed by ourKindergarten teachers. For further information and registration, contact AfterSchool Director Diane Hutchison in the Junior Building at 617-898-2513.After School Program (ASP): Kindergarten–Grade 5An After School Program is available for children in Kindergarten–Grade 5.For Kindergarten–Grade 3, the program is in session every afternoon on regularSchool days from dismissal until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday,and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. The regular program provides asupportive, relaxed and supervised environment offering a variety of organizedactivities, as well as unstructured use of time and space in the JuniorBuilding, including outdoor facilities. Special enrichment programs may beoffered as well. Appropriate snacks are served daily. Students attending onFridays need to bring their own lunch and beverage.The After School Program meets in the multi-purpose room of the JuniorBuilding. Children in grades K–2 are dismissed to the care of an ASP staffmember. Children in grades 3–5 walk to the “Rock” for regular dismissalwith their classmates, after which they continue to the Junior Building.Homework Club – Grades 4 and 5Homework Club is a supervised program where students in Grades 4 and5 have a quiet place to work and read. All students in Grades 4 and 5 whoenroll in the After School Program begin the afternoon in Homework Club,which runs from dismissal until 4:00 p.m. or longer if students need moretime to complete their work. After Homework Club, students join in theschoolprogramsandcultureIV19

IVschoolprogramsandcultureregular activities of the After School Program. Homework Club meets at themulti-purpose room of the Junior Building.After School Enrichment ProgramsASP offers several enrichment programs over the academic year. French,Spanish, Chinese, ice skating lessons, chess club and knitting are some ofour on-going programs. Minimum enrollment must be satisfied. Enrollmentforms can be accessed through the K–8 Web site.Chess ClubStudents in Grades K–5 may participate in a chess program that runs onTuesday afternoons from October to March. Both recreational and advancedlevels are available, with each group meeting once a week for a lesson, followedby intramural play. Advanced players may also choose to compete inoutside tournaments. Spaces in David Smith’s Advanced Chess Program arelimited and will be offered first to those continuing from the previous year.David Vigorito’s program is open to all students in Grades K–5; forms areavailable online or through ASP.Music LessonsPrivate instruction is offered by regular members of the Academy musicdepartment in voice, piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone,trumpet, French horn, classical guitar, electric guitar, and bass.Orchestra is available to students in Grades 4 and 5 whose proficiency supportsparticipation. Children enrolled in the After School Program on theirlesson day are walked to and from Kellner by ASP Staff. For informationabout private music lessons, contact Dr. Donald Dregalla, Upper SchoolMusic Department, at 617-898-2136 or email: Don_dregalla@milton.edu.Lessons are scheduled outside the regular instructional day.Ice SkatingThe Ice Skating Rink (ACC) opens to our families for free skating at the endof November. While there is an adult manager from the facilities departmentpresent at the rink, there is no adult supervision of or support for childrenat the rink during open hours. Lower School children may only use the rinkunder the on-site supervision of a designated adult. Skaters must wear helmetswhile on the ice. Hockey sticks and pucks are not allowed on the iceduring free skating times. The After School Program offers skating lessonsto students in Grades K–5 on Fridays in January and February. Please callDiane Hutchison at 617-898-2513 for more information.Field TripsField trips to off-campus sites provide authentic context to learning that is deep,rich and meaningful. The Kindergarten may visit the New England Aquarium;Grade 1 may visit Boston during the unit on architecture; Grade 2 may visitChinatown, etc. In the spring of Grade 3, the class spends two days and threenights at the Farm School in Athol, Massachusetts. Grade 4 travels extensivelyin the spring to the MFA and various sites related to their study of the MiddleEast. Grade 5 may travel to see a play related to literature studies.Classes travel by chartered bus, cars, School vans, public transportation, and onfoot. Parents are sometimes invited to join as chaperones and fellow learners.Generally, fees for trips and buses are charged to your child’s Incidental Account(IA). Field trip assessments are generally $10 to 15 per child. Assessment forthe Grade 3 overnight trip to the Farm School typically exceeds $300. TheSchool does not expect field trips to be a financial constraint and asks any familythat finds these charges difficult to let K–8 Principal Marshall Carter know.FoodLunchLunch is provided by the School on Monday through Thursday for studentsin Grades 1–5. Students in Grades 1–4 are served lunch in the multi-purposeroom of the Junior Building between noon and 1 p.m. For students in Grade 5,20

lunch is served in the Norris Hall Dining Room.Kindergarten students and those who attend Extended Day bring their ownlunches; milk is provided. Many kindergartners have strong food preferences,and a home-prepared meal encourages them to eat a nutritious lunch.SnackSnack generally occurs just before the morning recess period.Families in Grades K–3 contribute snack for the class on a rotating basis. Signupfor snacks generally occurs in the first two weeks of the school year. Snacksshould be nut-free and healthy. We encourage fruit, cheese, veggies, crackers,high-fiber cookies, etc. Candy, overly sweet desserts, highly salted or sugaredprocessed foods are not appropriate. In order to control allergens, please do notsend individual snacks with your child. When sending in snacks, please sendenough to include the whole grade and several adults. The School also providescrackers, water and juice.AllergiesNumerous adults and children in our community have allergies or sensitivitiesto various foods. FLIK dining service works closely with the School to providesafe meals for all children. When parents provide snacks, we must ask thatthey supply either the label from the snack or a complete list of ingredients. Inparticular, we ask that nuts be excluded from all home-provided snacks. Thisincludes commercially-produced snacks with warning labels indicating that thefood may have nuts or was produced in a facility that also processes peanuts ornuts.If your child has allergies of a particularly acute nature, we request that youmeet with your child’s homeroom teacher, a Milton Academy nurse, and thebuilding lead administrator to discuss ways to ensure safe food practices.Gifts for TeachersSimply put, gifts for teachers and School staff are appreciated but not expected.Children and families of the Lower School often wish to give gifts to teachers atholidays or at the end of the year. Parents are urged to consider gift giving in away that supports the Milton values of child-centered education, simplicity inmaterial things, commitment to economic diversity, and sensitivity to the feelingsof others.If you choose to give a gift, consider these guidelines:• Classes can pool resources to present a group gift to the teachers, specialistsand staff that work with the class. Some examples of these gifts areclassroom photo albums, class-made projects, or gift certificates to favoriterestaurants or bookstores.• Individual gifts are also a gracious way for students to thank teachers ina more personal manner. Please consider something student- or familymade,or a heartfelt note highlighting your experiences during the year.• Modesty and restraint are important. Be mindful that tax laws do limit thevalue of gifts you may make to Milton employees.HomeworkGiven in developmentally appropriate amounts at different ages, homework isan important opportunity for students to practice skills, think on their own,and develop self-discipline habits. Homework varies from classroom to classroomand grade to grade. Lower school teachers are thoughtful in choosinghomework assignments to complement the learning that occurs in classrooms.Guidelines and expectations will be communicated to parents at early-autumnCurriculum Nights.Through the Home Reading Program, parents of younger students are encouragedto share good books with their children by reading aloud. Each schoolnight, a child from Kindergarten through Grade 2 brings home a book to beread, either complete or in chapters, by a parent. Grade 3 also participates inthe Home Reading Program, and children may either read to themselves or haveschoolprogramsandcultureIV21

IVschoolprogramsandculturea parent read to them. In Grades 4 and 5, students are expected to read for atleast thirty minutes each night on Monday through Thursday; their individualselections are monitored by the classroom teachers and the librarian.Incidental Account ChargesEvery Milton Academy student has an Incidental Account (IA). Students in theK–5 grades may not use their accounts at the bookstore. The School, however,may charge the student’s IA for field trips and lost library books.The School sends statements to parents monthly and requests prompt payment.LibrariesStudents in Grades K–5 have access to two libraries: the Loizeaux ReadingRoom in the Junior Building (Grades K–2) and the Perry Reading Room in theCaroline Saltonstall Building (Grades 3–5).Kindergarteners visit the library as a class but do not borrow books. Studentsin Grades 1-5 may borrow books. The library does not charge fines for overduebooks; however borrowers must pay for lost books.Lost and FoundLost and found items can be recovered from bins located in the lobby of theJunior Building, the Junior Building multi-purpose room, and the lobby ofGreenleaf Hall. Occasionally throughout the year, items are displayed forretrieval. Unclaimed clothing is donated to local charity.Personal PossessionsWe operate on principles of honesty and truth. We do not have locking capacityfor students’ possessions. Therefore, we advise students to bring to School onlythose things necessary for school work and sharing. Treasured items, includingmoney, should be left at home or held by teachers for safe-keeping.Pets on CampusOut of respect for members of our community who have allergies, pets may notbe brought into the School buildings at any time. Under certain circumstances,and with prior permission from the principal and building lead, an animal maybe brought in for a special visit.RecessLower School recess occurs at staggered times, usually between 10 and 11a.m., and as a late afternoon break. Snack is generally served just before morningrecess. Children are encouraged to go outside in all but the worst weather.Please be sure that your child has appropriate clothing each day for outsideplay. Recess is a time for students to choose and structure their own play.Teachers are on duty at recess at all times.22

R e s o u r c e sHealth and WellnessK–8 AdmissionAcademic Support ServicesK–8 Parents’ AssociationmyMiltonEnrollment ProceduresInstitutional Advancement and the Annual FundV23

VresourcesHealth and WellnessIf your child is sick or not feeling well by the time school begins, please keephim or her home. While “butterflies” generally subside as the day gets underway,genuine illness can spread to others at School.Should a health need arise while a student is at School, a nurse is available inthe Junior Building. Her responsibilities include administering medication andfirst aid, and overseeing the health needs of all K–8 students. The K–8 nursingpersonnel are part of the resources available in the campus Health Center,which is located in Faulkner House.Health FormsHealth forms must be filled out by parents and family physicians and returnedto School before opening day. No child will be permitted to begin the schoolyear without completed health forms. For the safety of your child, all allergiesand existing health conditions must be listed. Since this information will beused in case of an emergency, please inform the School of any changes throughoutthe year.MedicationsOccasionally, a situation arises that necessitates medication to be administeredduring school hours. Such times may include short-term responses to an illnessor on-going treatment of asthma, allergies, or other chronic conditions. The followingguidelines apply to all students:• No child should have any medication with him or her unless it has beencleared with the Health Center. This includes inhalers for asthma orallergies.• All medications must be brought to school:• in the original prescription bottle with the child’s name on it.• accompanied by a letter signed by the parent, which states the child’sname, the medication to be given, the dose and time for each administration,and a telephone number where the parent can be reached if necessary.• if a medication is non-prescription, please follow the same procedure,making sure that your child’s name is on the bottle containing the medicine.• All medications or medical needs that need to be attended to during schoolhours will be administered by the nurses on duty, or if deemed medicallyappropriate, by a willing, responsible adult who has been designated andtrained by the school nurse to administer medication to your child.Please consult with one of the K–8 Nurses if you have any questions or concernsat 617-898-1671.IllnessAll cases of contagious disease in the family or exposure to a contagious diseaseshould be reported to the School. Such conditions may include strep infections,scarlet fever, chicken pox, measles, etc.We ask that parents look for signs of illness before their children leave forSchool in the morning. When children show signs of a cold, have a temperature,or sore throat, they should be kept at home until the acute phase passes.If a child becomes ill during the school day, we will make every effort to keepthe child comfortable while trying to contact the parents. We do not haveappropriate facilities for taking care of children who become ill except on anemergency basis.If a child cannot participate in physical education class due to an injury, he orshe must have a letter from home. Please send a note describing the child’s limitationsif this is the case. All children in school will be expected to participatefully in the scheduled classes and activities for the day.A child will not be permitted to participate in physical education class followinga serious injury until a permission letter is sent from home.24

Occasionally, children who are on the cusp of getting better from an illness maywish to attend school only for important rehearsals or group projects. While weunderstand the desire for a child not to let down his or her classmates despitepersonal sickness, we prefer that ill children stay home until they are fully recovered,and not to selectively attend those things that may be more important.resourcesLiceLice and nits are harmless though annoying insects that flourish on the head,particularly in the scalp and hair of young children. It is possible–likely even–that at some point during your child’s time in Lower School, lice will occur. It isimperative that you contact the School immediately when you know or suspectthat your child has lice. When lice are discovered at School, you will be contactedto pick up your child. Parents of all students in the class are notified ofthe presence of lice. An “all clear” from the Health Center is mandatory prior toyour child’s return. For additional information, please contact the Health Centerat 617-898-2450.In anticipation of the start of school and returning from a vacation, please routinelydo a head check, especially after times of long absences.K–8 AdmissionAccelerated Process for Kindergarten SiblingsMilton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten maytake advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applicationsfor grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timelineas outlined in our K–8 Admission viewbook and on the School’s Web site.The accelerated timeline for Kindergarten sibling applicants provides familieswith an admission decision by December, rather than waiting for the traditionalMarch notification date. Families who prefer not to use the accelerated processare welcome to apply using the standard timeline. Please note that childrenoffered admission in the early process must commit to the School’s offer ofadmission by January. If you would like more time to make your decision, werecommend that you apply following the standard timeline.The accelerated timeline for Kindergarten sibling applications is as follows:• Applications due October 15• Parent interviews October and November• Group visits November• All other paperwork completed November 22• Notification of admission decision December• Commitment letters due back January 2011By giving families the option of an accelerated timeline for Kindergarten siblingapplicants, we aim to balance the needs of our current families with our need towelcome children from families new to the Milton community. While we havea strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission.With an earlier desicion, we hope to give families with children for whomMilton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options.Financial Aid PhilosophyMilton Academy is deeply committed to enrolling outstanding and deservingapplicants regardless of their families’ financial circumstances. Milton strives tomeet 100 percent of the demonstrated need for each student it enrolls. Milton’sdiversity is a hallmark of the School; Milton actively seeks young people withacademic promise and a range of talents, skills and interests. The School doesnot discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, handicapped status, sexualorientation, religion, or national or ethnic origin.New to Financial Aid: How to ApplyPlease contact the Office of Financial Aid at 617-898-2233 to start the processif you are a first-time financial aid applicant. Please note that all materials aredue by January 15.V25

VresourcesCurrent Families Re-applying for AidMilton will review your aid application every year; you must reapply by January15. If there is no significant change in your family’s financial situation, you canexpect a comparable aid assessment from year to year. Milton will not reviewaid applications for the upcoming year prior to the full payment of your tuitionand fees for the current academic year. Milton Academy mails financial aidassessments for current students in May.Volunteer OpportunitiesThe K–8 Office of Admission welcomes all members of the parent communityto be admission volunteers. Our parent volunteers are a hallmark of our processand are consistently noted by our prospective families as making a significantdifference. We have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year, includinggiving tours to prospective families, serving as a host for the Open House,attending school fairs along with admission staff, hosting Kindergarten groupsessions, and more. We have special training and info sessions throughout theyear for our volunteers. If you currently have a child applying for admission, wedo ask that you wait until the admission process is finished to be a tour guide.Please contact Kristin Corbin at 617-898-2509 for additional information, orwith any questions.Host FamiliesHost families play an important role in the transition of new families into ourcommunity. From the perspective of the new family, the program provides avital link between families, and invaluable insight into Milton before schoolbegins and throughout those transitional first few months. From the perspectiveof the host family, it is an opportunity to welcome new families and to helpthe parents and children feel part of the Milton community. Being a host familyis a rewarding experience and, depending upon your grade, can take on manyforms from being available via phone for questions to getting together for socialevents.The need for host families is greatest in our entry years—Kindergarten, Grade 4and Grade 6. However, as there are sometimes new students admitted in othergrades, we welcome families from across the K–8 division who are interested inserving as host families to indicate their interest. For more information, or toinform the office that you are interested in participating, please contact KristinCorbin at 617-898-2509 in the spring.Academic Support ServicesLearning DifferencesMilton Academy’s K–8 is committed to optimizing each student’s learning. Oursmall class sizes enable us to foster relationships and to strive to understandhow each student best learns. We work to implement the most successful strategiesfor each child’s different needs, while encouraging children, as they grow,to learn about their own learning needs and styles.Some of our students need support beyond what is available in the classroom.In addition to our classroom teachers, a number of people help children andtheir parents better understand a child’s learning profile. These individualsinclude:• A full-time literacy specialist in the Junior Building• A part-time School psychologist• A learning specialist in Ware HallWhen a child’s learning profile is particularly complex, we are interested inseeking outside information to help us learn more and to determine when torecommend support beyond what is provided in the K–8. The Child StudyTeam, composed of the faculty above, meets weekly to talk about the progressof all of our children, and, in conjunction with classroom teachers, is wellqualifiedto initiate and discuss recommendations for testing and tutoring withfamilies. The School depends on honest sharing of what has been learned byoutside testers and tutors to help us be more productive, successful, and sensi-26

tive in the classroom.At times, it is in the best interest of a child to repeat a grade or find a schoolthat is better matched with his or her learning profile. Milton Academy is notthe perfect school for every child. We are increasingly skilled, though not perfect,at identifying when a learning issue is developmental and likely to respondto intervention, and when it will need skills and personnel outside of ourcapabilities. We acknowledge our responsibility to communicate regularly withfamilies when concerns arise, and we depend on mutual respect and support inmaking the best decisions to further a child’s learning. Above all, we share withour parents a fervent hope that their children thoroughly enjoy school, thrivepersonally and academically, and gain the necessary tools to succeed in theirfurther education.In–House ScreeningAt various times in the K–8 we conduct formal and informal assessments of ourstudents. This often happens at the beginning of the year, although it may happenat other times as well. This screening is done in-house by our own teachersand specialists, and is helpful as we make instructional decisions. These screeningsare one of the various ways in which we see how children learn and howwe can best meet their learning needs. We keep the screening information inthe office of each building. It provides additional information for teachers asthey create curriculum and choose materials, and it is not part of a student’spermanent file. Parents are always free to ask about the screening we conduct.In general, if we discover something worth sharing, we will do so.Standardized ERB TestsEach November, Milton Academy administers the Educational Records Bureaus(or ERB) CTP-4 standardized tests to Grades 3–8. The ERBs are the only standardizedtests that are administered in the K–8 division at Milton Academy andare widely administered among other independent and suburban schools.Please be aware that, like other standardized tests, the ERBs are not directly correlatedto our curriculum. They provide a snapshot of your child’s basic skills atthe time of the testing. The best preparation for children is a good night’s sleepand a healthy breakfast each morning.The tests are administered in homeroom groups by homeroom teachers over thecourse of the week and in a timed setting. Individual subtests range from 20 to40 minutes each. Parents receive score information and may request to speakwith teachers, learning specialists or administrators to discuss a child’s results.Outside Educational / Psychological EvaluationsThere are times when a child is evaluated outside of School, either at therequest of the School or out of parental interest. It is important that you sharethe results of educational and cognitive assessments with us. We recognize thatdisclosing this information may be difficult, especially if it points to specificvulnerabilities, deficits, or challenges. Sharing this information with the Schoolis imperative as it enables us to work together collaboratively in the best interestsof your child. In turn, we are committed to sharing any screening or testingthat is done in School. Simply put, the more information we have, the greaterthe possibility that we can make accommodations and employ instructionaltechniques specifically targeted to helping your child. Please be assured thatany outside testing will be handled sensitively and confidentially. It will not goin a child’s permanent folder nor will it be shared without your knowledge andapproval. You may choose to share testing with the principal, your respectivebuilding lead, the K–8 psychologist, the learning specialist, and/or a classroomteacher. We are dedicated to working together with a family to provide thebest possible education within our capabilities. If, however, a child’s particularlearning style and cognitive profile will not be well-served at Milton, we willwork with the family to try to identify an appropriate academic environment.Our ultimate commitment is to make sure that your child flourishes academically,emotionally, socially and physically. Referrals for educational/psychologicalevaluation are available through the learning specialist or school psychologist.resourcesV27

VresourcesK–8 Parents’ AssociationThe Milton Academy K–8 Parents’ Association is a volunteer organization thatincludes parents of students in Grades K–8. The Parents’ Association providesa forum where parents can achieve a greater understanding of the School andits philosophy and goals, and where parents can discuss issues of concern withSchool representatives; to support the School’s educational goals, faculty andactivities; and to enhance the spirit of the Milton Academy community.Executive Board 2010–2011Co–PresidentsAlyce Lee, P ’10, P ’11, P ’12, P ’13Monica Connolly, P ’20TreasurerClaire Walton, P’20, P ’22Development Office LiaisonsShannon OllerheadRhianne CrowleyCommunications LiaisonMarlena Alex, P ’17, P ’21Building LiaisonsJunior Building: Doreen McLaughlin, P ’21, P ’23Greenleaf Hall: Lindy Crawford, P ’18, P ’21Ware Hall: Diana Barrett, P ’15, P ’17Standing Committees• Diversity Committee: Acceptance and celebration of differences are integralparts of the K–8 experience. Milton K–8 encourages open discourseon issues of diversity among its parents. Interested parents, administrators,and faculty gather at suppers held throughout the school year (seeschool calendar for dates) to address how we, as a community, mightmaintain and build on Milton’s commitment in this area. All parents interestedin issues of diversity are welcome to attend our suppers. This is aparticularly wonderful set of community events, and we are gratified bythe proactive positive participation by a wide variety of parents.• Class Representatives: Serve as liaison between the parents and theSchool; contact class members as needed; organize welcoming activitiesfor parents; coordinate class dinners.• Parent Independent School Network (PIN) Representative: Attend four tofive PIN meetings per year at different independent schools in the Bostonarea and report back to the parent body.• Faculty Appreciation Committee: Organize recognition reception for facultyand staff as a way of expressing the parents’ gratitude and support.• Library Committee: Support the work of Joan Eisenberg in the LowerSchool libraries. Volunteer to help students check-out books.• School Photos• See You in September year–end picnic and celebration• Swap–It• Fireside Chat• Veterans’ Day Assembly• Grade 5 Play Producer• Community Service• Special Programs• Skating Party28

SWAP–IT FundraiserSwap–It is the Parents’ Association only annual fundraiser. It is a large-scale,four-day yard sale that regularly nets in excess of $30,000. For nine days, familiesacross the K–12 Academy donate their gently used belongings which arethen organized, tagged and sold. Proceeds of the event enhance the physicalresources of the K–8 division as well as faculty professional development forK–8 teachers.myMiltonmyMilton is the online resource center for Milton Academy parents. New familiesreceive access information and directions at the start of the new academicyear. Via this private Web portal parents can:• update student and parent contact information,• view grades and comments,• complete re–enrollment and health forms,• access the online student, faculty, and staff directory.Enrollment ProceduresresourcesAnnual Enrollment ContractsBy early February, the business office sends re-enrollment contracts to theparents of all students in the K–8. In order to hold a place for your child forthe following academic year, parents must return the completed contract andthe deposit within the specified period. Re-enrollment is completed throughmyMilton online. The deadline for re-enrollment is March 1. Parents, by logginginto their myMilton accounts, can click on “re-enrollment” to find detailedinstructions on completing the online forms, accessing informational brochures,and printing the documents that require signatures.Forms to be returned to School before the academic year• Medical Permission and Release Form• Physician Report Form (if your child is entering Grade 3)• Physician Information Sheet (if your child is entering Grade 3)Leave of AbsenceWhile rare, parents may choose to take a leave of absence from MiltonAcademy, either for personal reasons or to pursue a family opportunity. As aconsistent policy, if parents wish to hold their child’s place at the Academy forthe year following a leave of absence, they should expect to do so by payingtheir tuition for the year away. In order to maintain close ties to the School andpreserve a child’s social connections to classmates, the family will receive allcommunications generally sent to parents, as well as ongoing communicationwith teachers and administrators.Parents who wish to discuss the possibility of a leave of absence should callMarshall Carter, K–8 principal.Student WithdrawalThere are varied reasons families wish to withdraw a child from MiltonAcademy. When a family has made the decision to withdraw a student from theSchool, this intention should be formalized with a letter to the K–8 principaland the director of K–8 admission.Institutional Advancement and the Annual FundThe Annual Fund is money raised each year to support the day-to-day activitiesof the Academy. Proceeds from the Annual Fund benefit every K–12 student bysupporting extraordinary opportunities as well as helping meet the Academy’sgeneral needs. A vital source of expendable dollars, the Annual Fund provides10 percent of Milton’s operating budget. Milton’s Annual Fund offers alumni,parents and friends of Milton the opportunity to strengthen the highest prioritiesof the Academy through their annual unrestricted gift. The Annual Fundsupports academic programs, faculty development, financial aid and student life.V29

esourcesEach fiscal year the development office mails solicitations to alumni, parentsand friends who have not yet made an Annual Fund gift within the current fiscalyear. These letters are followed by telephone calls from alumni and parentvolunteers. Please consider making your gift early in the year to help reducepostage and telephone costs. In addition, members of the Annual Fund andLeadership Gifts teams visit with alumni and parents to discuss Milton’s needsand priorities.V30

M I L T O N A C A D E M Y170 Centre StreetMilton, MA 02186617-898-1798M I L T O N A C A D E M Ywww.milton.edu170 Centre StreetMilton, MA 02186M617-898-1798I L T O N A C A D E M Y170 www.milton.eduCentre StreetMilton, MA 02186617-898-1798www.milton.edu