About Our School

General  Information Page
You will find answers to many of your questions here. Thank you for taking the time to read through this important information.

Our School Hours: 9:10 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.             

Transportation Information:  If you have any questions about the bus stop, time of pick-up, etc. please call transportation at 285-8880.  The school does not have bus information.  

• Students are not permitted to be transported on a bus other than their assigned bus unless their is an emergency situation.  Parents need to contact Transportation first to get permission. If permission is granted, Transportation will contact the principal. Parents need to write a note informing the teacher of the date and changes in advance.
• Until the bus stop stabilizes (this usually takes about two weeks to stabilize times) have your child at the bus stop approximately ten minutes before the anticipated pick-up time.
• Each student must be at their assigned bus stop that the transportation department informed you of at the beginning of the year.  If the bus stop is at your home, the student needs to be outside waiting (even on inclement weather days) or the bus will not stop.  The drivers assume an absence unless they see a child. 
• If you have missed your child's bus on their return from school, please call transportation at 285-8880.  Often they can help get in touch with the bus driver to ensure that your child is safe.  Remember, if there is no adult at the bus stop, the driver cannot let them off the bus.  The procedure is to return the child back to the school and the office then will contact the guardians listed on the emergency contact card to make arrangements for a pick-up.  If no one picks up the child within ten minutes, the child will be placed in aftercare.  Aftercare is located in the cafeteria until 6:00 p.m.  There will be a charge.  A social worker referral may result if the situation re-occurs. 

Walkers/Personal Vehicle Transports: Please do not park in the front of the school.  You should park in the parking lot and use the front entrance no earlier than 9:10 a.m.  At this time, the staff will be on duty to begin supervision of children.  In the afternoon, please also use front entrance and sign out your child in the gym beginning at 3:30 p.m.  You or the designated guardian will need to show photo I.D. (preferably a driver's license) to sign a student out of school.  If you or the guardian does not have photo I.D. the child will not be released.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

Early Dismissal: If you know in advance that your child will need an early dismissal, please send in a note with the child.  If an emergency arises, please call the office prior to picking up the child so we may have him/her ready to be dismissed.  In the event that you are unable to pick up your child yourself, we must receive written permission from you to have an individual other than a parent pick up your child.  A phone call is not acceptable, except for individuals listed on your emergency contact card.

Procedures for visitors entering Bicycle Path:

1.Visitors will enter into our building through the main office only. Visitors must NOT enter through side doors or any door other than the main office.
2.All visitors must adhere to the following procedures with the exception of Middle Country District Employees who are wearing district identification badges:

• Present identification when entering the building.
• Present an “Event Ticket” with proper date and name.
• Contractors will be admitted with their identification and prior knowledge of their business by the principal/secretary.
• Parents picking up sick children will be sent immediately to the nurse’s office, provided that they have received permission to do so from the main office.
• PTA Executive Board members will be asked to display their PTA identification badges.
• Parents who are coming to school for early dismissal of their children are to sign in and show their picture identification prior to the release of the child.
• Visitors who are unable to meet the criteria for admission will be requested to await the arrival of the building principal.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

Contact with Teachers: Teachers will return phone calls after classes end at 3:45 p.m. or whenever possible during the school day.  Teachers will not be interrupted during instructional time to speak with parents.  You can also write a note to the teacher and receive a response as soon as possible.

Absences: Please call the attendance office at 285-8802 and leave a message on voice mail reporting the student's name, teacher, date of absence and reason for absence.  Calls are to be made before 9:00am on the day of the absence for each absence.

PTA: PTA meetings usually will be held the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. 

Party Invitations: Parents frequently ask teachers to distribute party invitations in school to a select group of students.  This is often unnecessarily hurtful to the other children in the class.  We have adopted a policy at Bicycle Path: No party invitations are to be distributed unless every child in the classroom is to be included.  If this is not possible, parents are encouraged to distribute invitations out of the school setting.  We are sorry for the inconvenience; however, we are trying to protect each child's feelings.

State Mandated Physicals: Physical examination forms will be going home in June and August.  Please have your physician complete these forms as soon as possible.  If these forms are not returned by October 15th, the school nurse will schedule a physical examination for your child with the school district.

Medication In School: We would like to remind parents that NO medication is to be taken by children in school on their own.  This is a New York State Law.  If medication needs to be administered daily, a doctor's note must accompany the prescription.  For more information, please contact the nurse at 285-8808.

Emergency Contact Cards: This is probably the most important piece of information that the school nurse needs.  Please fill out two emergency contact cards and add information on it as deemed necessary.  If your phone number changes (or any of the listed emergency contact guardians) please update this card!
 

Frequently Asked Questions   
Q - How do I register my child for Pre-K and Kindergarten?
A-Your child must be four years old by December 1st to register for Pre-K and five years old by December 1st to register for kindergarten.  To register, one must call Central Registration at (631) 285- 8890. 

Q - Where will my child attend Kindergarten?
A - All students who are scheduled to attend first grade at New Lane, Hawkins Path or Stagecoach will attend Bicycle Path. All students who are scheduled to attend first grade at Eugene Auer, Oxhead, Holbrook, Jericho, or North Coleman will attend Unity Drive.

Q - What is the pupil to staff ratio?
A - By Board of Education policy, there can be no more than 26 students in grades K-3.  Each class will share a teacher assistant with a second class.

Q - How are the children assigned to teachers?
A - The principal will make up the classes.  Classes will be "mixed" by home schools among the teachers.  Requests for assignment to specific teachers cannot be honored. 

 

Q - What will my child have for lunch and snack?
A - Lunch can be provided by the parents and brought to school by the children or purchased in the school cafeteria.  A menu is sent home prior to each month indicating the choice of meals for each day.

If paying cash, please include exact change in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child's name and lunch selection.  

Forgotten lunches will be provided for by our cafeteria and the parents will be asked to send in the money the following day.  Parents may prepay student lunches using a debit system.  We encourage families to take advantage of this convenience.  More information regarding this service is printed on the lunch menu.

Snack policy varies from teacher to teacher and will be shared with you by your child's teacher.

For information on the free/reduced lunch program, please call our Food Service Department at 285-8190. For an application, please visit the main office and ask for an application or call and ask for one to be sent home with your child.

Q - Do I get a report from the school on my child's progress?
A - A formal Parent/Teacher Conference is scheduled for December with written comments given to you.  Two more reports will be given to you in March and June evaluating your child's progress.

Q - Will my child be getting homework?
A - Yes, the amount and type of homework will vary from class to class but all homework will be directly related to the classroom instruction.

Q - Can I volunteer to help out in the classroom?
A - Some teachers select class parents and helpers for the school year.  It is up to the individual teacher to decide how classroom helpers are utilized. Speak to your child's teacher in September if your are interested in volunteering.