This reference guide contains the answers to the most frequently asked questions received from the High Meadow School community over the years. This information is provided here to help you quickly and easily find information you may seek. If you do not see your question listed here, please call the main office at 845 687 4855 or email your query to contact@highmeadowschool.org.

WHO SHOULD I TALK TO ABOUT…

Changes to my end of day/pick-up plan or leaving messages for staff or students?

If there is an urgent matter, please let Kelly in the main office know and she will get the person immediately. Changes for end-of-day plans must be phoned-in to 687 4855 or faxed to 687 5151 no later than 2 PM unless there is an emergency.

Curriculum, admissions and/or school policy matters?

Sometimes parents have a question about curriculum or school policy in general. For curricular, philosophical, special education concerns or practical classroom matters, please call Doris Easton-Gonzalez for Lower School (nursery – 3rd grade) or Michelle Hughes for Upper School (4-8th grade).

Cleaning issues?

For suggestions, questions, concerns about products, procedures or work-exchange, contact Doris Easton-Gonzalez.

Situations when an Administrator is needed?

Teachers and parents have at times requested that an Administrator be present at a meeting to help problem solve, provide an additional set of ears or help to ease communication. Please reach out to Doris Easton-Gonzalez for lower school (nursery – 3rd grade) or Michelle Hughes for Upper School (4th – 8th grade).

My volunteer hours?

Any Administrator.  More information is available in the Parent Handbook on pages 15-18.

The PTO?

The PTO Chair or any Administrator. More information is available in the Parent Handbook on page 15.

Concerns about High Meadow School staff?

Contact the Head of School or Lower School Coordinator about your concerns.

Difficulties I am experiencing paying tuition?

Contact the Finance Director about all tuition related issues or concerns.

A great idea I have for a fundraiser?

Discuss your ideas with the Fundraising Committee Chair.

A great idea I have for a school improvement?

Discuss your ideas with the Finance Director or the Campus Committee Chair.

A great idea I have for the High Meadow School website?

Discuss your ideas with the Finance Director or the Communications Committee Chair.

A great idea I have for a class activity?

Discuss your ideas with the classroom teacher.

A great idea I have for a curriculum component?

Discuss your ides with the Head of School or the Lower School Coordinator.

Something that happened to my child while they were in class, at recess, after school or on the bus?

The teacher is always the first person to contact about anything that has happened to your child anywhere on campus. After-school and bus related issues can be discussed to the Head of School or Lower School Coordinator.

A question about or problem with High Meadow School office staff?

Contact the Finance Director.

A question about or problem with High Meadow School teaching staff?

For the lower school, contact the Lower School Coordinator. For the upper school, contact the Head of School.

A question about or problem with the PAC facility?

Contact the Lower School Coordinator or Finance Director.

A question about or problem with the school’s facilities and/or grounds?

Contact any Administrator or the Facilities Coordinator.

A question about technology at High Meadow School?

Contact the Head of School.

EVENTS, SCHEDULE & CALENDAR

When is the main office open?

The main office is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM.

How do I find out about upcoming school events?

While the school’s academic calendar lists the major events scheduled for the school year, important bi-monthly updates are provided in the Newsletter. Descriptions of all events are available on the events page of this website and in the Parent Handbook on page 14.

How do I find out about weather-related school closings?

The Head of School will follow the closings of the Rondout School District. To find out if school will be closed due to inclement weather, either call 687 2400 or listen to WDST (100.1), WPDH (101.5) or WKZE (98.1). If there is a mid-day closing, parents will be contacted via their emergency phone numbers – please keep these current! More information is provided in the Parent Handbook on page 12.

WHERE DO I FIND…

Where is lost and found located?

Lost and found items are placed in bins in the foyer of each building.

Where do I log my volunteer hours?

In the main office is a binder titled “volunteer Log”. Please log your volunteer hours on the sheet titled with your name. More information about logging volunteer hours is provided in the Parent Handbook on page 18.

ABOUT THE HIGH MEADOW SCHOOL CAMPUS

Which road(s) should I use to enter the campus?

You may use Albright or Acorn Way to enter the campus. Please observe posted speed limits when entering the campus and yield to children crossing the parking lot.

Which road(s) should I use to exit the campus?

It is important to exit the campus via Acorn Way ONLY. Please observe posted speed limits when exiting the campus and yield to children crossing the parking lot.

May children play in the High Meadow School playground when school is not in session (before school, after school, on weekends, during holidays, during the summer, etc)?

All children need to be supervised at all times. If your child is playing outside after school without your supervision, you will be billed for after-care services. Otherwise, parents must supervise their children and observe the rules of the school. More information can be found in the “Code of Conduct” in the school’s website or in the Parent Handbook pages 72-73.

Which entrance should I use to access the main building?

Please use the side porch entrance to enter and exit the main building.

BEFORE, AFTER & SUMMER CARE

What is before-care? When is before-care available? How do I pay for it?

Before-care refers to childcare that is available at High Meadow School in the morning before school starts. Before-care is available Monday – Friday from 8:15 AM to 8:45 AM. Children are escorted to their classrooms when before-care ends.  Parents are not required to sign up for this service in advance and they are billed only for the days they use the service.

What is after-care? When is after-care available? How do I pay for it?

After-care refers to childcare that is available at High Meadow School in the afternoon after school ends. After-care starts at 3:00 PM and ends promptly at 5:30 PM. Parents are not required to sign up for this service in advance and they are billed only for the days they use the service.

When and how is the community informed about summer programs offered at High Meadow School?

Information about summer programs offered at High Meadow School can be found on the school’s website. A catalogue is also distributed during the last week of February.

AFTER – SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Who coordinates after-school programs?

After-school programs are coordinated by Amy Poux, Director of High Meadow Arts. Amy currently teaches Drama in the Upper School and also manages the school’s NYSCA grant. More information is provided in the Parent Handbook on pages 18-19.

When and how is the community informed about High Meadow School’s after-school programs?

Catalogues are e-mailed and distributed in the first weeks of September and January. More information about this is provided in the Parent Handbook on page 19.

PARENT-TEACHER, CLASSROOM

I have questions about my child’s progress in class.  Should I wait until formal parent-teacher meetings to discuss them?

No, you can schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher at any time during the school year. More information is provided in the Parent Handbook on page 13.

Is it okay to visit my child’s classroom?

Yes. Parents must arrange classroom visits with their child’s teacher in advance.

Why aren’t letter grades assigned?

High Meadow School seeks to imbue each student with internal motivation for learning and we believe that letter grades create a learning environment in which learning becomes subordinate to the prize of the grade. While students receive fractional grades or “check”/”check +” for assignments and quizzes and though grading rubrics are utilized for projects and papers in the upper school, feedback is also given in verbal and narrative form so that students can engage in ongoing discussion with teachers about their work. This builds a deeper understanding of progress and work needing to be completed which gives the initiative back to the student. More information is provided in the Parent Handbook on pages 65-66.

What is the process for teacher selection at High Meadow School?

Teachers are either cultivated from the assistant ranks, moved into an internship role where they first teach under a veteran teacher and then move into the role of teacher or hired by a Search Committee via a selection process. More information is provided in the Parent Handbook on page 30.

Is it really okay to call my child’s teacher in the evening?

Yes. Teachers provide guidelines for appropriate times when parents can call them at home. Please respect these guidelines. More information is provided in the Parent Handbook on page 13.

COMMITTEE & BOARD OF TRUSTEE SERVICE

What does a class parent do?
Class parents act as liaisons between teachers and parents. They also assist with class and school events and serve on the PTO steering committee.

How is a class parent selected?

Anyone interested in becoming a class parent should speak with the PTO Chair. The PTO Chair will communicate your interest to your child’s teacher for the next year.

Can anybody attend a PTO meeting?

Yes.

What is the process for Board of Trustee member selection?
When a seat becomes available, members of the Board of Trustees vote to nominate a new member to the Board. Nominating criteria includes: at least 1 year involvement with the school during which time consistent and extraordinary service and/or support to the school as a whole was provided, experience in or knowledge of a particular specialty or skill for which increased representation is needed on the Board and the demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and cooperate through work on project groups, committees and/or with event planning. After nomination, potential candidates are evaluated via the selection process. Final new member selection decisions are determined via Board of Trustee member vote.

Can anybody attend a Board of Trustees meeting?

No because sensitive and confidential matters are discussed at the Board of Trustee meetings. If you would like to make a presentation to the Board of Trustees, please contact with the Board of Trustee Chair to arrange your presentation in advance.

What Committees exist at High Meadow School? What is the purpose of each Committee? How can I get information about joining a particular Committee?

Committee Name	Purpose & Description
Board of Trustees contact(s): Kathi Caproni, Chair drcaproni@hvc.rr.com Paris Perry, Vice Chair parisperry@me.com	The purpose of the Board of Trustees is to ensure the school’s fiscal soundness and responsibility and to ensure that the decisions made by administration and staff are consistent with the mission and goals of the school. Each board member facilitates a Committee as part of their service on the Board of Trustees. Except for the Finance Committee, new members can join any of these committees at any time. Contact the Committee Chair for more information about or to join particular committees.
Campus Committee contact(s): Paris Perry, Chair parisperry@me.com Liz Appelson lappelson@hvc.rr.com	The Campus Committee seeks to improve the appearance of the campus, its functionality both academic learning spaces and play spaces and its safety through thoughtful and collaborative planning that includes input from the PTO, Board, Administration, staff and student body. This committee is comprised of representatives from the school community, PTO, Board of Trustees and student body.
Communications Committee contact(s): Terry Baron, Chair terry@baronfamily.com Michelle Hughes michelle@highmeadowschool.org	The Communications Committee overseas the school’s communications tools which include the newsletter, website, Facebook page and Crowdrise site. The duties and responsibilities of the Communications Committee include but are not limited to assisting with and supporting the school’s overall marketing, recruitment, advertising and PR efforts to increase and improve communications within the High Meadow community, to alumni and to the external (public) community at large. This committee is open to all members of the school community.
Education Committee contact(s) Kathi Caproni, Chair drcaproni@hvc.rr.com Michelle Hughes michelle@highmeadowschool.org	The Education Committee is a consortium of parents and teachers examining the foundations of progressive education, current issues in education, and the ongoing development of the academic program at High Meadow School. The goal is to further the school dialogue and understanding of the philosophical tenets of progressive education and how they play out at High Meadow School in particular, and then to communicate them effectively to the community at large. This committee is open to all members of the school community.
Finance Committee contact(s): Paris Perry, Chair parisperry@me.com Teresa Barschi tbarschicpa@verizon.net	The Finance Committee is charged with oversight of the present and future financial stability of the school. This committee is comprised of the Board of Trustees Vice Chair and the school’s Finance Director. New members are invited to join this committee on an as needed basis when particular knowledge or expertise is needed.
Fundraising Committee contact: Lauren Ludwig- laur.e.lud@gmail.com	The Fundraising Committee seeks to support the efficiency and effectiveness of each fundraising event while investigating and exploring new ways to raise funds for High Meadow School. The Fundraising Committee is comprised of the fundraising event facilitators for each fundraising event of the current school year. The Fundraising Committee includes a PR/Media sub-committee that performs all PR and Media related activities for each fundraising event. Responsibilities include the creation of print and radio ads, posting of calendar listings, coordination of editorials, interview set-up, website information submission, image/branding for events and circulation of press releases. The Fundraising Committee and PR/Media sub-committee are open to all members of the school community.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) contact(s) Jodi Palinkas, Chair Jodi@highmeadowschool.org	The PTO is comprised of High Meadow School parents who volunteer their time to support and enhance the mission of the school and to further the education and well-being of each child through a vital partnership between parents, teachers, Board of Trustees and the Administration. The goals of the PTO include strengthening communication between all parties, increasing parental involvement in the life of the school including parent education and community building within the school, achieving an appropriate level of utilization of the resources of the larger community, supporting teacher professional development and increasing the visibility of High Meadow School in the region. The PTO works collaboratively with many different groups on campus to achieve these goals.