What time does school start and end? Arrival time begins at 8:10am. Dismissal is at 2:35pm. For abbreviated days, dismissal is at 1:10pm. If your child typically takes the bus home, they will still do so on abbreviated days.
What do I do if my child is sick or will be late/absent? What if I need to pick them up early? Please call the main office at (973) 509-4162 and follow the prompts to leave a message. You can also email our school secretary, Ms. Lori Mascellino at lmascellino@mpsdnj.us.
What is before care and after care? The Montclair YMCA runs and staffs before and after
school programs in all of the district’s elementary schools. Click here to enroll or to learn more.
● Before care: Hours of operation are 7:30 am to school opening.
● After school: Program begins at school dismissal and children are to be picked up by
6:00 p.m. On early dismissal days the program will begin at early dismissal time and pickup remains the same unless otherwise noted. These spots fill quickly, so we encourage you to sign up ASAP.
What is Enrichment? The PTA operates an After School Enrichment program (“Enrichment”). These are classes conducted by teachers and visiting instructors that start immediately after school ends and go until 3:45pm. If your child is a walker, pick-up is 3:50. If your child is in YMCA after care, they will return to the YMCA after care program in the multipurpose room. Signups for enrichment classes generally begin a few weeks after school is back in session. Look for information in your child’s backpack!
How does drop-off work? If you are dropping off your child, you can either pull into the drive circle or park and walk your child to the door. Principal Carr-Clemente and Mr. Mellman, our music teacher, are outside to greet students – rain or shine!
Can I walk my child to their classroom? Parents and caregivers are unable to walk students into the classroom at this time. For the few weeks of of school, Kindergarten teachers will meet students outside at their designated door to walk them in and teach them entry procedures. Encouraging your child to buddy-up with a friend is a great way to calm anxieties about walking into school without you.
How does lunch work? Kindergarteners eat lunch in their classroom and students in grades 1-5 eat in the multipurpose room. If your child has an allergy, please discuss options with your teacher. If you would like to purchase lunch through the school, you must set up a prepaid account at http://myschoolbucks.com
How does pick up work? At dismissal, students divide into walkers, bussers, and aftercare. Those who are being picked up get dismissed at 2:30pm. They come to the front of the school with their teachers. Your teacher will tell you what side of the building to go to for pick-up. Teachers will not dismiss a student until they have seen that child’s parent/caregiver. If it is raining or snowing the kids will usually stay inside near the gym and will be released as parents arrive.
Where can I park during drop off and pick up? All parking is either on the park side of Edgemont Road or in the cut-out in front of the school. For safety reasons, no one is allowed to park in or block the drive circle. You can also park on North Mountain and walk through the back playground if parking is limited.
Do the kids need to bring in a snack? Yes! A healthy snack that is minimal in packaging is best so that hands spend less time unwrapping and more time eating. Snacks must be peanut and tree nut-free. Your child should also bring in a water bottle that can be refilled throughout the day.
What about birthdays and holiday celebrations? You should speak specifically with your teacher but generally, you are welcome to join the celebration via zoom. The district has adopted a food-free classroom policy. Please visit the district website for more information.
How can I get involved in the classroom? There are many opportunities to get involved in the classroom – one option is to serve as a class parent. The PTA will guide you through the process if you are interested in taking on this role. Other in-classroom opportunities are arranged by individual teachers. You can also talk with your child’s teacher about ideas such as coming into the classroom to read a book, share a craft, or help with a reading or math group. Generally, your participation is welcome and greatly enriches the classroom experience for the kids!
How can I volunteer at school-wide events? To volunteer at school-wide events, check the PTA’s weekly newsletter for opportunities, or visit the Volunteer Opportunities page on our website. If you’re interested in helping out in general, or want to join a committee, please send us an email at info@edgemontpta.org. We would love to hear from you!
How will I get general information from the school during the year? If you provided your email when you enrolled your child, you will receive all-school communications directly from Principal Carr-Clemente by email. If you gave permission when you enrolled your child, the PTA will receive your email address, and add you to their mailing list for newsletters and other emails. The PTA receives this information in mid to late September, so we recommend that you join the PTA and register for the newsletter before that time to make sure you get all of the latest information. Once the school year gets into swing, each class will have one or two class parents who will email about classroom news and activities. Your child will also bring home paper notices in their backpack. While the school, district, and PTA are working towards eliminating paper as much as possible, this “backpack mail” helps ensure all parents and caregivers are getting the information they need.
Helpful Links/Phone Numbers:
School Website: https://edgemont.montclair.k12.nj.us/home
YMCA After-Care: 973-655-9756
Transportation Office: 973-509-4062
Food Services: Set up a prepaid account at http://myschoolbucks.com
Lunch Menu: http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1499438302084&page=menus
Genesis: Go to http://parent.montclair.k12.nj.us for schedules, grades and teacher contacts.
Having problems logging in? Email parentaccess@montclair.k12.nj.us with your student’s name, your name, the issue you are having, and your phone number.
PTA Questions?: info@edgemontpta.org
Check us out on Facebook: Edgemont Montessori School PTA
PTA President: Lesley Peller; Vice President: Katie Place
Montclair School District Website: www.montclair.k12.nj.us
Montclair PTA Council: https://montclairpta.org/
Montclair Public Library: http://www.montclairlibrary.org/
Montclair Township: https://www.montclairnjusa.org/
MFEE (Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence): https://mfee.org/
Montclair SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council): https://www.facebook.com/montclairsepac/