Parent handbook Pre-primary_2023_open file

Parents Handbook Pre-Primary Section

CAMPUS PRAYER

Our Founder Padmabhushan Pujya Shriman Karamshibhai Jethabhai Somaiya 16.05.1902 to 09.05.1999 1 The Somaiya School

The Somaiya School Motto Vision The Somaiya School provides a holistic, value-based education that will enable students to confidently shape their own future and contribute to the well-being of all / the Society as well as the environment. Mission We are committed to educating our students beyond the confines of the classroom to make them better individuals/ citizens and develop their personalities with a deep appreciation of Indian knowledge, culture and learning. Beliefs/Core Values WE BELIEVE Ø In creating a learning environment that is steeped in honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness and care. - in creating ethical citizens. Ø In inculcating the value of service to society. Ø In kindling the spirit of cooperation and patriotism. Ø In embracing change and striving to be lifelong learners. Ø That all students can learn and we will never give up on any student. Ø That collaboration among students, staff, parents and the community is integral to student success. 2 The Somaiya School

TACBLEOOFNTENTS 1 Our Founder 2 Motto – Vision – Mission – Core Values 4 President’s Message 5 From The Principal's Desk 6 Saying hello from Pre-primary 7 Handbook– Purpose & Scope 8 The Road to Decorum & Discipline–Parents lead the way! General Information 10 School Timings 10 Arrival and Dispersal Procedures 11 School Management Contact Information 11 Student Uniforms / Dress Code 11 Essential Agreements 12 Absence and Leave 13 Snacks and Refreshments 14 Fee Payment Procedure 14 Personal Belongings and Personal Security 15 Experiential Learning 15 Special Educators and Counseling Cell 16 Admission and Withdrawal Rules 18 Curriculum structure 18 Home Assignments 19 Library Guidelines, Rules and Regulations 21 Birthday And Special Event Celebrations 22 First Aid, Illness, Emergency Holidays And Security 25 Communication Charter – The Somaiya School 29 Transportation Charter – The Somaiya School 31 The Heart Of A Teacher 3

President’s Message Shri Samir Somaiya President | Somaiya Vidyavihar University The importance of education in the life of an individual cannot be overstated. It shapes individuals in their formative years and imbues them with values that would govern all their choices in life. It is said 'If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people'. 4 The Somaiya School

From the Principal's Desk Welcome to the Somaiya School! The Somaiya School is a learning space designed specifically keeping in mind the needs of today's students. It is a place where students feel safe, both physically and emotionally, where all types of learners experience, explore, question, design, innovate and create their own 'Aha' moments!! Ms. Parveen Shaikh We offer the CBSE curriculum, which is Principal| The Somaiya School enriched with the best practices from around the world. The students are given a range of opportunities to achieve excellence in academics, creative, social, cultural and sporting pursuits. Our teachers work with a growth mind set and believe that all students can learn and be successful, that each learner is unique and powerful, motivated and rewarded for taking risks as well as rising to challenges. Learning at TSS goes way beyond the books and the classroom. Our conscious endeavour to shift the paradigm from teaching to learning takes many forms: Students learn by doing, while working as a team, on stage debating, by doing in-depth research, while painting a picture, writing a poem or making an impressive presentation. Our students are emerging as confident, young thinkers who freely speak their mind. They are groomed with the skills, mind set and attitudes to face the challenges of the future. Professional development helps our school teachers to stay ahead and implement the latest trends in education. We spare no effort to make the educational experience of our students meaningful and relevant to the needs of the time. We value our relationship with you and encourage you to support our commitment to provide quality education. I am honoured to lead this growing learning community. 5 The Somaiya School

Saying hello from Pre-Primary Dear Parents, A very warm welcome to The Somaiya Family. A great journey begins with small steps. We believe that each child who comes through our doors joins a community of children, families and teachers engaged in the joy, work and wonder of childhood. In this journey we will together make Ms. Jasmine Shah your child's first pre-school experience rewarding and successful. Pre-Primary Coordinator Childhood is filled with natural wonder and curiosity. Ensuring that every child feels a sense of security and belonging within the school enables each child to accept and participate actively in transforming situations that are a part of learning experiences. It is our constant endeavour to provide a nourishing and conducive environment to our children to help them grow into global citizens. Our innovative curriculum is based on the latest research and high academic standards. It provides developmentally appropriate, child-initiated and teacher guided activities. It focuses on the philosophy that children learn best through play. It is important for children to have opportunities to construct their own knowledge through exploration, interaction with materials and imitation of positive role models. The curriculum encompasses cognitive, physical, socio-emotional and language development. It encourages creativity, independence and problem-solving skills. I welcome you once again to the Somaiya family and look forward to joyous learning and engagement with your child … 6 The Somaiya School

Handbook – Purpose And Scope Welcome to the new academic year at The Somaiya School. This Handbook is for parents, guardians and students of the Pre-primary. 7

The road to decorum & discipline – Parents lead the way!! · Along with this handbook, the parents/guardians are also advised to see the details provided in the undertaking signed by the parents/guardians at the time of admission of their child in the school. · To get the best from the school for their ward, parents are required to co- operate with the institution in its attempt to help their children progress by paying attention to their regularity, punctuality and discipline and to take interest in their child's work. · Parents should check the handbook and the school portal/LMS/Google Classroom every day and note the homework and other instructions given. · Parents should adhere to and respect all the rules laid down by the School diligently. · Please carry the identification cards every time you visit the school: this way you save valuable time not needing to sign the visitor's register. · Please arrive at school at least 5-10 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. · Children pick up your actions and mannerisms more than your words. In order to lead them well, kindly ensure the following: o Avoid late nights for the children, especially on Sundays and weekdays as the child needs to be well rested and fresh for the next day. o Put your cell phones on silent / vibrator mode at all times within the school premises and during school meetings / events. o Do not double park the cars while dropping or picking up your ward – strict penalty shall be levied (Details in the transportation charter) o Maintain decorum while visiting the School for events or meetings. Needless to say, be suitably attired. Decency needn't be compromised for fashion. o Stick to your time slots at IWP (Open day / Interaction with parents). Please note that other parents are equally anxious and waiting for their turn. 8

o While visiting the School in large groups to pick up your kids/ books / uniform or even for events, maintain a queue system to avoid inconvenience to yourself as well as others. o Should there be any concern about your ward's progress, it is advisable to write to the class teacher keeping the Principal and Coordinator in CC, about the problem(s) and seek guidance. Your letters/mails will be replied to after discussion with the concerned teacher/s. o Students will not be allowed to go home during school hours. Parents are advised not to make any social engagements or medical appointments during working hours. To ensure better discipline, parents are requested not to send their ward to school on the day they have such appointments. o Date of birth given at the time of admission will not be changed under any circumstances. o If your ward is suffering from any contagious disease, he/she will not be permitted to attend the class, until a medical certificate is produced. o A leave application on an A4 sheet duly supported by a medical certificate should be submitted to the class teacher, for sick leave of more than three days. o Please take care of the personal hygiene of your ward. Ensure he/she is well groomed every day. o Parents are not permitted to meet the ward or teachers during working hours, without the permission of the Principal/Section Head. They are refrained from entering classroom during class hours. o The school is not responsible for the loss of any personal property. However, enquiries can be made with the class teachers. o ID cards should be worn daily by all students. Duplicate ID cards will be issued on payment of Rs. 300/-, only lanyard is available for Rs. 100/- o Parents are requested to refrain from sending books, notebooks, tiffin, water bottle after the child reaches school. 9

General Information I. School Timings · Nursery: 9:00 am – 12:00 noon · Jr. Kg & Sr. Kg: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm · For Grades 1 – 10: o Regular school hours - 8:00 am – 3:00 pm o After school activity - 3:20 pm – 4:30 pm o Working Saturdays (for Grades 8-10): 08:00 am – 12:15 pm o School Office: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm ii. Arrival and Dispersal Procedures · Parents should take the responsibility of instilling the importance of being punctual from a very young age. · Students are expected to reach school at least 05 minutes before the school timing. · After 3 late marks in one month the child will be sent back home. · For students travelling by bus, the Class teacher should be informed in writing through a note in the diary, if you / a guardian plan to collect your child personally after the school hours. Verbal messages will not be entertained. · Arrivals and Dispersals are done under the supervision of school staff. · For those parents picking up the children at school, we request you to arrive before time as delay causes anxiety in your child. · Guardian cards (drop and pickup) must be carried to pick up children. o Arrival (for Nursery, Jr. Kg and Sr. Kg) – 08:45 am o Session concludes at 12:00 noon for Nursery. 10

iii. School Management Contact Info · Principal's office: Available Tuesday and Thursday between 10 am-12 noon; by prior appointment only. Email ID – [email protected] · Pre primary Co-ordinator: Available Tuesday and Thursday between 10 am-12 noon; other weekdays by prior appointment only. Email ID – [email protected] iv. Student Uniforms / Dress code · Students are expected to be in complete school uniform at all times. · Identity cards must be worn everyday. · Fancy haircuts (especially for boys) is strictly prohibited. Keep the boys' hair short. · Girls must tie two pony tails / plaits if they have long hair and two pony tails for short hair using black rubber band and / or black clips. Coloured hairbands or fancy hair clips are strictly prohibited unless specifically mentioned by the class teacher for any school event. · For girls, wearing jewellery or dangling earrings is prohibited (with the exception of small studs). · The school does not accept responsibility for personal items brought to school and is not responsible for expensive articles lost by students. · Only winter jacket provided by the school must be worn. · Student must wear black open sandals during monsoon and black velcro shoes after monsoon v. Essential Agreements: We use positive methodology of discipline, to develop respect, co-operation and responsibility towards each other and the environment. · The child's self esteem is always the focus. Children are encouraged to follow rules through encouragement and positive guidance. 11

· It is important for parents to take an active interest in their child's behaviour and clearly communicate with them about acceptable behaviour. · Students need to be made aware that with every opportunity comes responsibility, which needs to be respected. If not respected, they run the risk of losing that opportunity. Thus, students will be encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for their actions and face consequences accordingly. Punishment is synonymous with discipline in the mind of a child. Research shows that mere punishment does not always work as a deterrent. · At The Somaiya School, it will be the endeavour of the staff to correct the behaviour of the child rather than punish the child. · All students are required to always behave courteously at all times and conform to the norms of good conduct. · All students are expected to contribute to a positive learning atmosphere in the class by cooperating with the teacher, getting work done on time, contributing to discussions, asking questions and avoiding distractions. · Students must treat school property (the building, equipment, school transport, furniture, fittings, books etc.) with respect and report any damage to their class teacher/coordinator. Cost of intentional damage to the school property will have to be borne by the parents of the concerned student. · Students who travel by transport approved by the school are expected to be always well behaved and courteous while using this facility. · Use of abusive and unacceptable language, leaving the school premises without permission, breaking or disfiguring school property is totally unacceptable. vi. Absence and Leave The Somaiya School provides for adequate vacation as well as rejuvenation time for the kids on the weekends. Keeping this in view, parents are requested to avoid taking extended holidays as it breaks the continuity of the child's learning pace and may hamper the progress as they find it difficult to catch up. 12

· Daily class attendance is a condition for fulfilling requirements of the academic program, completing course work, and general academic progress at the school. · 80% attendance (working days) during the academic year is a pre- requisite for promotion to the next grade level. (The school reserves the right to withhold promotion in case the minimum attendance requirement is not fulfilled.) · All children are expected to attend the first day and last day of school for both the terms of the academic session. · If your child is absent for a day during the year, please send a note in the handbook the next day. · Students shall not be granted half days during normal working days. · If the child is absent for more than 3 days due to medical reasons, support the same with a bonafide medical certificate and a letter addressed to the Principal. · In case there are unavoidable circumstances where the child must take an extended absence, please apply for the same in writing at least 15 days in advance and get a confirmation to proceed further. · No leave adjoining vacations will be allowed without the prior written permission of the Principal. · Absence of more than 7 days without prior written approval or without any intimation to the school renders your child's name to be struck off the rolls. · If the child gets the 4th late remark in a month, he/ she will be sent home. vii. Snacks and Refreshments · Children are provided with healthy, nutritious, Jain mid day-snacks. Food is cooked in hygienic and highly controlled environment, ensuring good quality and taste. 13

· Filtered water is available on the premises. Children however are encouraged to carry their own, labelled plastic water bottles from home. Please ensure that the water bottles have a string attached. · Metal bottles are not permitted due to safety reasons. · Home snacks are to be sent ONLY for medical reasons and that too for a short period. viii. Fee Payment Procedure · Upon Admission, parents need to pay the fees via fees portal (myaccount.somaiya.edu) · Once the student admission Id numbers are created, students receive their SVV NetID and password. Fees are payable quarterly as per the notice. · Payment can be made by visiting myaccount.somaiya.edu with login credentials of the ward. · Quick guidelines for fees: o Ensure payment of fees is as per schedule. o In case any payment (tuition fee / nutrition fee / after school activity / bus vendor fee) is not cleared before the Open Day / IWP, the report card will be withheld till the payment is cleared. o Fees have to be paid quarterly by the 10th of each quarter i.e April, July, October and January. o If not paid by 10th of the month, a late fee penalty of Rs. 100/- per day will be levied. o All queries regarding the school fees should be marked to the school administrative staff. E-mail : [email protected] ix. Personal Belongings and Personal Security · All belongings like water bottles, caps, school bags etc. should be labelled with the child's name. Toys and personal belongings should not be brought unless called for by the teacher. 14

· The Somaiya School takes it's compliance policy very seriously: No mobile phones / electronic gadgets or toys should be brought to the school. If any such stuff is found, it shall be confiscated and parents shall be called to the school to provide an explanation. Repeated offences shall be viewed seriously and can call for suspension. · CC TV cameras in school in all key areas have been installed. x. Experiential Learning · As part of their curriculum, children will be taken on themed field trips to broaden their horizon and make their learning concrete. All safety and security measures would be taken into consideration prior to arranging a field trip. · Permission forms will be circulated prior to the trip, which parents need to sign and submit the same to enable the child to go on the trip. · Parents are encouraged to share the experiences the child has had after the trip, via the handbook or email. · Students must wear the School uniforms on field trips. · School transport during such trips may / may not be provided for students to be picked and dropped from school depending on various factors such as timings, logistics etc. xi. Special Educators and Counseling Cell · The Somaiya School has a team of trained counselors and remedial teachers dedicated to dealing with academic, emotional, behavioral, social and psychological issues. The teachers and / or parents may refer the student / child to this cell. This team endeavors to support your child in their educational and emotional issues. Parents are therefore advised to solicit help if required without fear of social stigma. Their advice and / or suggestions might help the child. · Need based seminars by reputed child psychologists/trained medical practitioners-cum-family therapists shall be conducted by the school during the academic year. 15

· Any requests to consult the special educators/counselors/remedial teachers shall be routed via the class teacher. · Parents are requested to fill the Letter of Consent For Remediation / Counselling Children with Special Needs Form in the handbook. xii. Admission and Withdrawal Rules · Admission guidelines: Þ Required documents enlisted in the admission kit must be submitted at the time of admission. In case the information is found to be inaccurate or unauthentic, the school can disqualify and / or reject the admission. Þ Admission to the different standards in the school will be strictly done according to the school rules governing the same. Decision of the school shall be abiding and final. Þ Students seeking new admission must bring along the School leaving / Transfer certificate from the previous school (if applicable). This certificate must bear the counter signature of the educational authorities or the Education Department of that state. Þ Registering the name does NOT guarantee admission. The Management reserves the right to refuse admission without assigning any reason. Þ In case of a local guardian, the parents must bring along with them the guardian while completing the admission formalities. · Withdrawal rules Þ All Leaving Certificate Applications should reach school by 28th February, otherwise first quarter fee of the next academic year will be charged. Þ Transfer Certificate will not be issued until all dues are cleared. Þ Original TC (Transfer Certificate) of the previous school will be retained by the School. Þ Fees once paid will not be refunded. 16

Þ Leaving certificate / Transfer Certificate will be issued ONLY to the parent of the child. Þ Parents must submit a written application for the School Leaving Certificate to the admission department. Þ The School Leaving Certificate will be issued within 7 working days /last working day- whichever is applicable. If the parents are going out of the state on transfer, the certificate will need to be counter signed. This may take a fortnight. All dues should be cleared to obtain the leaving certificate. Þ Library books should be returned. Þ In exceptional circumstances, if the school leaving certificate has to be sent by courier (with the Principal's approval) then the courier charges will be borne by the parent. 17

Curriculum structure · Curriculum at The Somaiya School is an amalgamation of all the best practices in Early Childhood Education. · Learning experiences are tailored to differentiate among the individual needs of children in the classroom, based on different learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. · The School is affiliated to the Central board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Pre - Primary : · Research shows that learning is an integrated process and that theme- based education is beneficial in several ways. · The key benefit of an integrated curriculum is the ability of the children to see skills, multiple times. Teaching comprehension strategies in multiple disciplines can give children an opportunity to see and implement the strategies more often. · The reinforcement of skills being taught creates a higher level of understanding and retention of information. · By following a structured daily routine like Circle time, Weather chart, Snack time and many other activities as per the day schedule, they learn abstract concepts like time management in a very concrete manner. · Considering the importance of multilingualism, we lay emphasis on English and to stay rooted with Indian culture we give them exposure to Hindi and Sanskrit too. Home Assignments · Home work is an extension of school learning, it helps students by complementing and reinforcing what is learnt at school. Parents may support learning at home through reading to and with your child. It helps develop regular study habits and encourages students to be responsible for their own learning. 18

· Simple home assignments and practice worksheets are sent once a week. For lower classes, not more than 20 minutes should be spent working on the worksheets. Home Assignments help maintain continuity in the child's learning and parental involvement enhances the experience for the child. · Refrain from pressurizing the child to complete the assignment and more importantly even refrain from completing the projects yourself. · Your child's worksheets are sent home as part of the “Friday Folder”. Parents are encouraged to appreciate the child's work as it motivates them to do better. Library Guidelines, Rules and Regulations · Use of the Library is conditional on observance of the Rules and Regulations. · The Somaiya School has two well equipped libraries with over 30,000 books of various genres for students and adults. · In order to encourage and instill the habit of reading in our children, we have created a dedicated space for reading in each of our classrooms. · Children are given one book every Thursday to read at home. Parents should spend some time in reading out these books to their kids and engaging them. · If the books aren't returned on time, a fine of Rs. 10/- per day is levied. · Children visit the School Library once a week for library activities · The school library will be open for students/parents on Thursday from 3 pm to 4 pm and on any one working Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. · Students can borrow 3 books at a time for a period of 15 days. · Students must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian at all times. · Parents/ students are expected to maintain the decorum of the library at all times. 19

· Books taken out must be left on the table, to avoid misplacement of the books. · Books that are lost/damaged must be replaced with the latest edition of the same. · As the duration given is 1 hour, kindly respect the given timing and selection should be done accordingly. · Parents and students must comply with any reasonable request or instructions issued by library staff. · Anyone failing to do so may be excluded from the library and/or incur a fine. · The Librarian reserves the right to refer to the Principal any breaches of the rules and regulations and / or improper behaviour towards library staff for consideration within the terms of the appropriate disciplinary procedures. · Students are required to carry their student ID-card to get entry and to use the library and must produce the same when required. This card must be used only by the member to whom it is issued. · Bags, etc., are not allowed in the library. For reasons of security, bags and other personal possessions should not be left unattended. The library takes no responsibility in case of damage to or theft of personal property. · Silence is required in library and reading rooms. Discipline should be maintained inside and outside the Library. · The use of mobile phones in the library is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a fine and/or exclusion from the library. · The consumption of food and beverages (except drinking water) and the use of personal audio/video equipment are not permitted in the library. · Photography, filming, videotaping and audio taping in the Library is not allowed. · Parents and students are required to comply with copyright regulations. 20

Birthday and Special Event Celebrations · Events are celebrated with gusto and excitement at The Somaiya School. It is a huge carnival of sorts when the entire school participates enthusiastically in these events. · These events are aplenty for the Pre- Primary, Primary and Secondary sections. While Sports day and Annual day are permanent fixtures, some of the popular events for Pre-primary include: · Literary Fest · Mathemagica · BEAMS · Grandparents , Mother's & Father's day · Festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Ganpati, Dusherra, Ramzan, Lohri and other festivals · We, at The Somaiya School celebrate birthdays and make the day more memorable for the birthday child. Students can come dressed in a simple color dress, which is age appropriate and is not indecent or revealing in any nature. Considering that the child would spend a minimum of 4 hours at School, we suggest that the birthday attire is comfortable. Use of make-up is to be strictly avoided. · To celebrate birthdays, children can bring in home-baked or store bought EGGLESS and NON-FROSTED SIMPLE CUPCAKES. Nuts as topping must be avoided, as some children might be allergic to the same. · The cakes need to be individually packed and sealed for the purpose of hygiene. · Large cakes with / without frosting will not be accepted. · School does not encourage separate gifts for teachers on birthdays or any other occasions. Kindly follow this strictly. 21

First Aid, Illness, Emergency, Holidays and Security Health and Safety of all children is a matter of deep concern and of prime importance to the school and the parents. The School is very fortunate to have a well-equipped school infirmary to attend to the needs of the children who may be unwell and require rest. · Presence of children suffering from infectious ailments may result in an outbreak of an epidemic in the entire school. · At the first signs of rash, fever or any other serious ailment, the child should be medically examined and sent to school only on the advice of a doctor. · During recovery from an infectious ailment, the child should be quarantined at home as advised by the doctor. · A medical fitness certificate should be submitted to the Principal's office immediately when the child returns to school. · In the interest of everyone concerned, the school reserves the right to deny permission to the student to attend class. · In the event of a child feeling ill during school hours, parents will be notified. · The School has a 'Doctor on call' to attend to any emergencies. · Information of Hospitals and Doctors associated is displayed in the School. · In case of an injury or an accident, the student will be administered First Aid at school and parents shall be informed. · In case of serious injuries, along with giving first aid, the child will be taken to the nearest hospital and parents will be informed accordingly. · No medication will be issued in the school without informing the parents. · In case parents are not able to attend to an ailing child, the local guardian is permitted to take the child home. In this case, the guardian must produce the guardian pick up card to ensure a seamless movement of the child. 22

· An up-to-date record of the child's health, allergies and emergency contact number should be given to the school. Any changes should be notified immediately in writing. Sick Bay: · The sick bay has a full-time qualified nurse and a physician-on-call to attend to children if required. · If any medication is administered to your child, a diary notification and/or a phone call will be made. · The parent/guardian authorizes the medical attendant appointed or nominated by the school to administer over the counter medication for common ailments. The parents/guardians understand that the medical attendant appointed or nominated by the school may not be a trained medical doctor and it shall be the responsibility of the parents/guardians to have the student medically examined by a certified doctor as soon as possible. Please note that because of the aforesaid, the school will not be able to provide any specialized medical treatment other than over the counter medicines for common ailments. Emergency Closing: · In case of any civil disturbance, or an emergency, do not send your child to school. · Should an emergency occur during school hours, the students remain on campus. Students will be handed over only to a parent/guardian/person carrying identity proof. Fire Drill: · A fire drill will be conducted once a year to ensure speedy evacuation of all children in case of an emergency. · A chart showing the route to be followed will be displayed on all floors. 23

Holidays · All holidays will be declared at the discretion of the school management. · Certain special events may be conducted on holidays/working / non- working Saturdays. Security and Safety · CCTVs have been installed on all floors, classrooms, common areas and their purpose is to ensure the safety and security of students. · 24 hours Trained Security personnel are posted at the entry gates. Parents/Visitors must enter details at the entry gate register. · Section wise entry cards must be collected from the security gate. 24

Communication Charter - The Somaiya School Communication refers to both, the sending and receiving of information, such as email and notes and verbal communications such as telephone conversations and face-to-face meetings. In order to ensure a successful exchange of information, it is important that all parties follow a few key norms. Guidelines for Parent Communications to Teachers and Staff As part of an ongoing effort to foster effective communication between parents and staff at The Somaiya School, the school officials have developed the following communication guidelines. These guidelines will be reviewed on a periodic basis and adjusted as necessary. · Maintain respectful and open communication · Always use a respectful and polite tone : even if you meet the teacher in a social / informal gathering, please do address him / her with appropriate respect and not just with their first names. · Request, don't demand. · Be ready not just to provide information, but also to listen to teachers/staff and their observations and perspectives. · Enter the exchange with an open mind in the best interest of your child. · Be prepared to work collaboratively to solve problems. · Threats and/or inappropriate language will not be tolerated towards any staff member. E-mail Regulations · All emails must be addressed to the Principal, Section head as well as the class teacher and start with the salutation, Dear Madam and not Hi, Hello, etc. · All e-mails sent to the school MUST quote the student's name, class and division. 25

· Please expect at least 2 working days for replies to any email including one seeking an appointment with the Principal / Co- ordinators unless it's a matter of utmost urgency. Requests for meetings with the class / subject teacher must be sent ONLY in the school handbook. · All requests for change in residence leading to a change in bus route must be given well in advance. Please do not send last minute emails in this matter. · Parents are requested to consider the tone of the emails they send to school. The school reserves the right to disregard highly negative and rude emails. · Do not use SMS jargon or lingo in your emails. Confidentiality · Recognize that confidentiality may prevent information that can be shared by the school with parents, including consequences for other students' behaviours. Student Handbook Usage · Student handbook is designed to serve as a primary communication tool between the parent and the teacher. Please use it effectively. · Your child has to bring the handbook to the school everyday. · If a teacher has sent a note in the handbook, please sign and acknowledge it. · Similarly, notes sent by you shall be read and acknowledged by the teacher. · If parents need to discuss their child with their teacher, a note requesting a meeting should be sent in the child's handbook. Time to Respond to Communications · Teachers will make every effort to respond as soon as possible to parent communications, with the understanding that the teaching day sometimes precludes immediate responses. 26

· Teachers and staff may need some time to collect needed information before responding. · If your concern is not addressed within a reasonable time frame, parents can call 022 66177200 / (Mobile) or visit the main office to request a meeting. Whom to Contact · Most of the classroom concerns should be directed first to your child's teacher via the handbook. · If you have discussed the concerns with your child's teacher and the issue has not been addressed to your satisfaction, then move to the next level. · Please recognize that it is both the policy and the value of our school that we operate with openness, collaboration and the shared best interest for every student. Update your Contact Information · It is important that the school has the current phone numbers and addresses in the school data base. · If you move or change your phone number, it is imperative that you notify the school and update your emergency contact information. Please visit the office to update this information Interaction with Parents (IWP) · IWP is held twice in a term. This gives you an insight into the child's progress at school. We encourage both the parents to attend these meetings. · ·Attendance by at least one parent is compulsory. The IWP schedule is in the student handbook. Contacting Teachers or Staff · Please use the Student Handbook extensively to communicate with the teachers. 27

· Please note - Classroom questions concerning your child should be addressed to your child's teacher before contacting the counselors and/or school administration. Further Plans · Currently we are communicating all planned and some randomly evolving information via the handbook, Google Classroom and a few on Whatsapp (via the Class Representatives / PTA network). · Moving forward, we shall be integrating all communication to a web-based internet school portal. Once this system is live (and communication is sent on the same), parents will be required to visit the school portal for all regular updates. · Whatsapp as a communication medium shall be used only for critical messaging once the updates on the website are complete. · The School discourages unofficial Whatsapp groups and takes no responsibility for any information on such groups. 28

Transportation Charter – The Somaiya School Following are guidelines only. The parents will do well to lead their children in following the rules for seamless functioning of the school and security issues within and outside the campus. Existing parents are also advised to read the same in conjunction with the sections on Parents Decorum and Communications. Child pick-up and drop: · If your child doesn't use the school bus, please arrive on time to pick them up as delay on your part creates an anxiety in your child's mind. · Children must be escorted and accompanied by their parents or guardian at all times. In case the guardian needs to be changed, prior intimation should be given in writing to the school. · Entrance and exits are monitored by our central security at all times. · Students can be picked up and dropped from the school in their private vehicles only. School bus and transportation: · In order to ensure the safety of our students, The Somaiya School has made it mandatory to use transportation provided only by the designated vendor. · At present, an outsourced vendor manages the school bus. Therefore all routes and schedules are determined by the bus vendor in conjunction with the school authorities AT THE START of the academic year and is considered final. · Parents are strongly advised against changing the route or maneuvering the route according to their personal convenience. · The bus vendor, keeping in view with the shortest routes for the child, plans all bus routes. · In each bus, GPS and CCTV cameras are provided along with a lady attendant. 29

· Students must always keep their arms and head inside the bus. · While in motion, students must not try to get off the bus or move about, which could endanger other kids. · Strict action will be taken if a student refuses to co-operate fully or observe these regulations. · In order to pick up the child from school, parent/guardian ID is compulsory. · Parents are not allowed to enter the school bus. · If your child is using the bus facility, please drop and pick up the child at the designated bus stop at the pre-determined time – in case of any failure to pick up your child at the stop, the child will be brought back to the school and you will have to collect your child from the school. · If your child uses the bus facility provided by the school regularly, any change in this routine needs to be communicated in writing to the school. Do not rely on your child to pass on this information to the authorities. Do not communicate directly with the bus attendant/ driver either. · If the parent of a child availing bus facility wishes to pick the child personally, a written note informing the same shall be sent to the class teacher via Student Handbook. · Private autos / vans are strictly prohibited. Parking guidelines and penalty issues: · Double parking or chaotic parking to pick up or drop the kids (on regular school days or on events) is strictly prohibited. · Security personnel have been empowered to note down the vehicle registration numbers and the corresponding parents shall be levied fines. · Notice for fines shall be levied via the handbook to the parents, which has to be paid in cash at the school office only. · Serious / repeated offenders shall be sent a notice by the school. · Parking for private vehicles within the campus is strictly prohibited. 30

by Paul J. Fox She gives the child the freedom he needs… to make choices on his own so he learns to become more responsible… The child arrives like a mystery box… and is able to stand alone. with puzzle pieces inside He’s taught to be strong and think for himself… some of the pieces are broken or missing… as his soul and spirit heal and others just seem to hide. and the puzzle that’s taking shape inside… But the HEART of a teacher can sort them out… has a much more positive feel. and help the child to see The child discovers the joy that comes… the potential for greatness he has within… from learning something new… a picture of what he can be... and his vision grows as he begins Her goal isn’t just to teach knowledge… to see all the things he can do... by filling the box with more parts A picture is formed as more pieces fit… it’s putting the pieces together… an image of the child within to create a work of art. with greater strength and confidence… The process is painfully slow at times… and a belief that he can win! some need more help than others All because a hero was there… each child is a work in progress… in the HEART of a teacher who cared with assorted shapes and colors. enabling the child to become much more… First she creates a classroom… than he ever imagined…or dared. where the child can feel safe in school A teacher with a HEART for her children… where he never feels threatened or afraid knows what teaching is all about to try… she may not have all the answers… and kindness is always the rule. but on this…she has no doubt She knows that a child can achieve When asked which subjects she loved to teach, much more when he feels secure inside she answered this way and smiled… when he’s valued and loved…and believes in “It’s not the subjects that matter… himself … and he has a sense of pride. It’s all about teaching the CHILD.” She models and teaches good character… and respect for one another how to focus on strengths…not weaknesses and how to encourage each other. 31

The Somaiya School Somaiya Vidyavihar Campus, Vidyavihar(E), Mumbai–400077 General Enquiries: 022 - 66177200 / 8879336834 Email: [email protected]| Website: tss.somaiya.edu