Family Handbook 2023-2024

Mission

We teach our students to think critically and creatively, to develop joyful curiosity, to embrace challenge and apply their knowledge with confidence, and to thrive within a community rich with diverse perspectives and talents.

To Achieve Our Mission

We hire well.  

We attract teachers whose commitment to academic excellence and professional development promotes both critical and creative thinking.

We establish a sense of belonging.  

We nurture important, collaborative-learning relationships. Our students and parents are known; their voices and contributions are vital.

We initiate opportunities to excel. 

We provide opportunities for students to identify themselves as innovators, leaders, contributors, artists and athletes. 

We engage and motivate students.  

Our hands-on curriculum reinforces classroom learning, elevates critical thinking ability and promotes academic achievement.

We embrace childhood.  

Our students excel within a curriculum that balances classroom achievement with intentional time for play, imagination and physical activity.

We inspire advocacy.  

We encourage students to advocate for themselves and others, to contribute their skills in support of causes about which they are passionate and to pursue sustainability in all aspects of their lives.

We emphasize creativity.  

We promote personal expression through vibrant visual arts, music, woodworking, performing arts and our immersive approach across the curriculum.

We prepare students for future success.  

Tower graduates are articulate, kind, confident, self-motivated learners who possess the skills for academic and personal achievement in secondary school and in life. 

Board of Trustees

Tower School is governed by an independent and self-sustaining Board of Trustees. The Board ensures that the school's mission is relevant and vital to the Tower community, and it monitors the success of the school in fulfilling its mission.

The Board seeks members who represent the diversity of the school community and who contribute a particular expertise that will serve the school. Board members are distinguished by their commitment to Tower and their care for the mission of the school. Membership is determined by vote of the board according to the school's by-laws. Board members serve three-year terms.

School Leadership

Accreditation & Affiliation

Tower School is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Tower School is non-sectarian.

Tower School Parents Association (TSPA)

The purpose of the Tower School Parents Association is:

• To encourage the active participation of all parents in the life of the school

• To provide a forum for the open exchange of ideas within the community

• To facilitate communication between the school and the parent body concerning all aspects of student life

• To provide support services for the faculty, administration and trustees

• To organize and promote projects beneficial to Tower School.
   

The Tower Code

All members of the Tower community—students, faculty, and parents—learn and work together under the School Code:

• Respect all people: faculty, students, parents, visitors, and others.

• Respect the rights of students to learn and teachers to teach.

• Be kind and helpful. Include others.

• Be honest with yourself and others.

• Respect school and personal property, and help keep Tower clean.

Behavior and Conduct

The Tower Code provides a guide to the school’s expectations for student, faculty and parent behavior and conduct. The Code encourages all members of the community to take responsibility for their actions and to learn from their mistakes.

Significant violations of the Tower Code by any member of the community may result in disciplinary action including the loss of school privileges, probation, suspension, or dismissal from school.

Each member of the Tower community bears a responsibility for the reputation of the school. This means that personal conduct, regardless of time and location, is a legitimate concern of the Tower community.

The following items warrant additional emphasis:

• Any violation of state/federal laws, including those in relation to the possession or use of drugs, alcoholic beverages, or weapons, may result in immediate dismissal from school.

• Students may not leave school grounds during school days unless on a school field trip.

• Members of the community are expected to use all forms of technology appropriately.

• Stealing, cheating, fighting, abusive and/or inappropriate language, including cyber-bullying, as well as behavior disruptive to other students’ learning and well-being are clear violations of the Tower Code (online and offline).

See the Bullying Prevention & Intervention and Behavior Management information, found in the Reference section.

School Hours

Attendance

We ask that parents support their children’s work at Tower by working within the schedule the school has established. We expect that parents will arrange for their children to arrive and depart promptly each day, and that vacations will be arranged with respect to the school’s schedule. If a student is unable to attend school due to illness, parents are asked to call the front office or email the Director of Health Services at paula.cardarelli@towerschool.org. Students who depart school before 10:30 am will be marked absent.

• Attendance records will be noted on report cards.

• Parents will be contacted regarding any student who is repeatedly late or absent. 

• If a student is absent for more than five days or consistently tardy in any trimester, the parents will be asked to meet with the Division Head and/or Head of School to discuss the pattern.

• The school day begins at 7:55 am. In the event a student arrives after this time, they must enter through the front door and sign in at the front office.

Extended Absences

Extended absences not related to illness or family emergencies are strongly discouraged. Students who miss significant school time for family vacation often suffer academically and socially despite the student's best efforts. If you know your child will be absent for two or more days, please notify the Division Head. This allows students to plan with their teachers to complete assignments upon their return to school.

Medical Appointments

Whenever possible, medical appointments should not be made during school hours. When unavoidable, please inform the student’s teachers by email at least one day prior to the appointment. The student must be picked up in the main lobby and signed out with the receptionist before leaving campus.

Religious Holidays

We recognize the role of faith in the lives of our families and honor the importance of religious observations and celebrations. Accordingly, we will be sensitive to the issues of homework and tests on those dates if the school is not closed. Teachers will continue to introduce material of previously presented concepts. We may not always be aware of religious holidays practiced throughout the student body, so we urge parents to inform their children’s teachers about upcoming religious holidays so that appropriate accommodations may be made.

Snack and Lunch

Students are expected to arrive at school with their snacks, lunches, refillable water bottles and utensils. Please note the following:

• Students should pack food that does not require heating 
• All grades at Tower are designated as nut-free
  Refer to the Tower School Food Allergy Policy, found within the Student Health Section, for detailed information.
• To protect children with allergies, students are not permitted to share or swap their snack or lunches with other students
• Filtered water bottle refill stations are located at the entrance to the Lynch Gymnasium, and adjacent to the Middle School rotunda
• Milk is provided at lunchtime
• Please do not bring caffeinated or carbonated drinks or gum, unless chewing gum is specifically prescribed as a sensory assist by a clinician
• Whenever possible, please pack an eco-friendly, trash-free lunch, including reusable utensils
• If your child forgets to bring a lunch, the Director of Health Services can provide a lunch
• The TSPA hosts optional pizza lunch days throughout the year. Ordering information will be provided through the Spotlight
• Families can also order lunch, Monday through Friday (not on Pizza Fridays), from Root’s customized Tower School lunch menu via the Toast App. Orders must be placed before 9:30am for same-day delivery. Choose 12:00 pickup for Lower School students and 12:30 pickup for Middle School students.

Dog Policy

Dogs are welcome on campus, with specific guidelines to ensure the comfort of our community. It is a privilege to bring dogs to campus during the school day. Not all children and adults are dog lovers, however, and we are sensitive to the fact that some community members are allergic to animals. Dog owners must read and agree to the following policies before bringing their dogs to school.  

• Dogs must be healthy, housebroken, and trained to handle active social settings.

• Dogs must be on a leash while on campus and under the owner’s control at all times. Dogs are not permitted on the turf field.

• Family dogs are welcome on campus outside for athletic games and other activities.

• Children may not walk dogs on campus during school hours.

• Cleaning up after a dog is the sole responsibility of the dog owner (children may not do so). 

• Dogs must be current with all vaccinations and licenses.

• Dog owners are personally responsible for any damage, stains or injury that their dog may cause.

• Family dogs are not permitted inside the school building.

• Dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior or bark frequently will not be allowed on campus.

• The School reserves the right to ask individuals not to bring animals onto campus. The final decision rests with the Head of School, at their sole discretion.

Exemptions to this policy include service dogs such as guide dogs, hearing dogs, or assistance dogs. Contact Patti Gillis for more information about the use of service dogs on campus.
 

Birthdays

Birthday Celebrations at School

We are committed to providing an environment that enhances learning and encourages the development of lifelong wellness practices. Individual birthdays at Tower will be celebrated as a community without an emphasis on food. Homerooms may also recognize birthdays and celebrate them in imaginative ways. 

Birthday Parties

Birthdays are an exciting aspect of school life for children. When organizing parties, we ask families to be sensitive to the feelings of others. We are mindful that the exclusion of a few classmates can be painful in a small community such as ours. While 30 is a small number of children when thinking about a grade in school, it can be a large number when planning a birthday party. 

For our community, options include:

• Inviting all of the children in your child’s homeroom 
• Inviting all the students in the grade
• If a smaller party is in your child’s best interest, you may consider the following guide: the number of guests invited to a child’s birthday should be equal to the child’s age. Ex. If a child is turning five you have five guests. While not inviting everyone, this option allows for flexibility and clarity about how the guest list was created.

When sending invitations, please send invitations outside of school. Be sure to include all households for a student. Email addresses for students’ families can be found within the family directory.            

We want these childhood years to be wonderful and to create lasting happy memories and hope that these suggestions help you as you plan these special parties. In the end, whether you host a party for 8 or 30 children, you know what is best for your child and your family. 

Transportation

School Bus 

Tower offers morning transportation for families living in Nahant, Lynn, and Swampscott. Priority is given to families who live the greatest distance from Tower. Enrollment forms are available on FamilyID/Arbiter Sports. Registration is required.
 

Car

West Shore Drive Circle

• For morning drop-off, a single line of cars forms along the center of the West Shore Drive circular driveway. 

• For afternoon pickup, a double line of cars forms and children are directed to their cars by members of the faculty. 

• Faculty help students out of or into cars as drivers approach the front of the line. Tower faculty are unable to assist in buckling children. If a child is unable to do it independently, the adult picking up should park the car in a space and buckle the child before driving away.

• In compliance with Massachusetts' Anti-Idling laws, we ask families to turn their car off when waiting more than a few minutes.

• For safety reasons, cell phones and other devices may not be used in the carpool lane.

Cornell Loop

• The entrance to the Cornell Road carpool loop is near the intersection at Dartmouth Road. Cars queue in a single line along the right lane of the loop; when full, a second lane forms on the left.

• Faculty help students out of or into cars as drivers approach the front of the line. Tower faculty are unable to assist in buckling children. If a child is unable to do it independently, the adult picking up should park the car in a space and buckle the child before driving away.

• In compliance with Massachusetts' Anti-Idling laws, we ask families to turn their car off when waiting more than a few minutes.

• For safety reasons, cell phones and other devices may not be used in the carpool lane.
   

Parking

For safety and courtesy reasons, parking is not allowed on/in: 

• Cornell Road between Dartmouth Road and West Shore Drive

• the corners of Cornell Road and the neighboring side streets

• positioning that prevents neighbors from exiting their driveways
  Allow enough space next to and opposite driveways.

• West Shore Drive between Cornell Road and the circle entrance

Parking is available on/in:

• West Shore Drive circle and the overflow lot

• West Shore Drive, far past the overflow lot driveway 

• the side streets, off Cornell Road
  Please be mindful to leave room for cars to pass and enter/exit driveways safely

• designated parking spaces in the carpool loop

Bicycle

Students who ride their bike to and from school may park and lock their bike in the bike racks located at either entrance.

Arrival and Dismissal 

Faculty members are on duty in both the West Shore Drive Circle and the Cornell Loop entrance from 7:40–7:55 am for student arrivals and at 3:00 pm for student dismissals. Please arrive promptly for arrival and dismissal. Students whose rides are running late for pick up will wait at Club T.E.D. for an additional fee.
 

Providing Standing Order Permission for Students to Walk/Bike Home without a Parent, Guardian or Caregiver

To provide a standing order for your child to be dismissed to walk or bike home, please email us at hello@towerschool.org, and indicate your child(ren)’s name(s) and their grade. Children who walk or bike home at dismissal must make sure that a dismissal faculty member knows they are leaving.
 

Notify Teachers of Changes in Carpool Plans 

In the event of unforeseen circumstances which require a change in carpool plans, please send an email to the student’s Lower School homeroom teacher or Middle School advisor and homeroom teacher before 12:00 pm. If updates occur after 2:00 pm, please contact the receptionist at 781-631-5800.
 

Dismissal for Grades 6–8

On game days, Middle School athletes may be dismissed later than 4:00 pm. These students will be dismissed at the conclusion of their game, or upon return to Tower from away games. During the winter athletic/drama season, the schedule for Middle School dismissal may vary. In these cases, dismissal will be at the Circle.  

Director of Health Services

The Director of Health Services offers temporary, first attention to illness or injury during the school day. We ask parents to look for signs of illness before their children leave for school in the morning. If children are injured or become ill during the school day, parents are notified and, if necessary, will be asked to pick up their child as soon as possible.
 

Health Records

All students must be registered in FamilyID yearly. Yearly health updates, consent for medication and treatment are all a part of this yearly registration and required for children to be in school.

All students must have a physical on file each school year that indicates the student has had a physical exam within the last 18 months.  All new students, as well as those entering grades Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grade 7, must have an updated health record on file that includes all of their immunizations. This health record can be uploaded on Family ID or sent in to the Director of Health Services. This health record must be dated within one year of entry into school and be received before the first day of school. This health record can be obtained from the child’s physician. Students will not be permitted to attend school without updated physicals and immunizations on file. If your child is exempt from immunizations due to religious beliefs, a letter must be written by the parents, dated yearly and filed in their health record at school.

Massachusetts Law-Part 1, TitleXII, Chapter 76, Sec 15
“In the absence of an emergency or epidemic of disease declared by the department of public health, no child whose parent or guardian states in writing that vaccination or immunization conflicts with his sincere religious beliefs shall be required to present said physician's certificate in order to be admitted to school.”

In keeping with Tower School’s mission to promote academic, physical, and emotional development of children, and in support of the Massachusetts law on Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse (Chapter 119, Section 51A, of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), the school has adopted procedures for reporting suspected instances of injury to students resulting from abuse or neglect. These procedures provide for conditions in which there is either suspicion or reasonable cause to believe that a student is suffering serious injury from abuse or neglect. They seek to ensure a safe and healthy childhood for children.
 

Health Examinations

In accordance with the law, Massachusetts independent schools are required to communicate the following to parents:

• The school does not conduct state-required health exams 

• The school thereby recommends that parents consult with their health care provider to ensure these exams are carried out for their children
  
   

Student Illness

Parents are often faced with the dilemma of whether to send a child to school if he or she appears ill. With that in mind, the school offers some guidelines:

• Students and faculty who exhibit symptoms of Covid-19, influenza or any other communicable illness, should stay at home and consult with their doctor to see if testing is recommended and notify the health office for any follow up and guidance

• A child with a fever greater than 100.0 should remain at home until a normal body temperature is maintained for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or Advil

• A child on antibiotics for contagious bacterial infections like strep throat may return to school 24 hours after taking the first full-day's dosage and are feeling well and can participate in daily school activities

• A child with GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting should remain home until symptom-free for 24 hours and is able to eat a regular meal

• A child with active cold symptoms, specifically, a persistent or productive cough or a large amount of nasal drainage may benefit from an additional day of rest

Food Allergy Policy

All classrooms, common areas, and kitchens are designated as nut-free. Peanuts, and tree nuts are not allowed to be prepared or ingested in nut-free areas.

Goals 

• To provide a safe environment for students with life-threatening allergies to nuts and other food products

• To reduce the risk of exposure to life-threatening allergens in the school setting. While every reasonable accommodation will be made to reduce the risk of exposure to nuts in the school setting, the school cannot guarantee a completely risk-free environment
   

Parent Responsibilities

Do not pack food that contains nuts, nut oils, or nut extracts on the ingredient list. You may pack snack or lunch items with a food label that reads, made in a facility that processes nuts; it is safe for your child to eat. A label that states, processed on the same equipment as nuts or may contain traces of nuts is not safe and may not be sent to school.

• Provide an ingredient list for all foods sent in for group consumption. All food items that are sent in to be shared should ideally be store-bought in order to ensure that the items are safe. All shared food items will be approved by the parent or guardian of the child with the allergen and/or the Director of Health Services, before consumption. Food will not be served if the ingredient list is not provided. Food can be served to a large group, as long as there are no nut products on the ingredient list and has no disclaimers regarding nuts. 

• If your child has a life-threatening allergy, please inform the Director of Health Services of your child’s allergies prior to the beginning of school, or as soon as the diagnosis is made.

• If your child has a life-threatening allergy, and epinephrine has been ordered, please provide the school with an up-to-date epinephrine auto injector.

• If your child has an epinephrine auto injector ordered or other medications to be kept at school, parents must have their child’s pediatrician complete a Physician Medication Order Form and/or Emergency Action Plan which can be obtained from your child’s pediatrician. Please download a copy on Family ID or send the forms into the health office prior to the first day of school. Medications must be dropped off in their original container, labeled clearly with the student’s name.
   

Student Responsibilities

Take as much responsibility as possible for avoiding allergens. 

• Do not trade or share food with another student

• Read labels on food before ingesting

• Do not eat foods that are possibly cross-contaminated
  These items might include home baked items or foods that are processed in facilities that produce nuts

• Select a safe alternative snack from the Director of Health Services office. Wash hands before eating

Medications

All medications, both prescription and nonprescription, must be kept in the Health Office and dispensed by the Director of Health Services. Students may not keep medications in their cubby, locker, backpack or lunchbox.

If a child needs a prescription medication given during the school day, please have your child’s pediatrician complete a Physician Medication Form and send that into the health office. The medication must be dropped off in their original container and labeled clearly with the students name. Over the counter medication other than medication described in Family ID can be given with a note signed and dated by the parent. Medication must be clearly labeled with the child’s name. 

All inhalers are considered prescription medication. Children with asthma should have an inhaler kept in the health office along with an Asthma Action Plan that should be provided by your child’s pediatrician. In order for a child to self-administer a medication like their inhaler, the child’s pediatrician needs to indicate on the Physician Medication Order Form that the child is capable of self-administration. Parents must also give permission in writing for their children to self-administer medications. 
 

Medication on Field Trips

If a child needs to take medication while on a field trip, the Director of Health Services will designate an adult to be responsible to oversee all medications. The Director of Health Services will evaluate and ensure whether the student is competent to self-administer the medication and whether the child has permission to self-administer from both the child’s pediatrician and parent. The Director of Health Services will designate an adult to supervise the child self-administering his or her medication. Medications will be kept with a designated responsible adult while on the field trip.

The Director of Health Services will not administer vitamins, supplements, homeopathic, or non-traditional medications to students. If a parent wishes for their child to have these medications during the school day, they must deliver and administer these medications directly to their child.

Infection Control and Communicable Diseases

Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by specific organisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Infectious diseases that can be spread from one individual to another are called contagious or communicable diseases. Contagious illnesses are among the major problems that school health programs face, causing absences and physical discomfort for students and staff.

 Infectious disease control measures in schools include:

• preventing infection from spreading

• requiring certain immunizations

• reporting some illnesses

• temporarily excluding some children who are ill or may be incubating  communicable disease

• preparing to respond to outbreaks and emergencies of all types
   

Infection Control Measures 

The spread of communicable diseases can be controlled by the use of good infection control practices. In the school setting, age-appropriate immunization is key in preventing the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. Proper hand hygiene, standard precautions, appropriate personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfecting, and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette are effective methods for preventing the spread of most infectious diseases and should be implemented and practiced consistently in schools.

To ensure the health of all members of our community, we may periodically or situationally implement infectious disease mitigation measures (ex. mask wearing) as warranted by public health data. Updates, as needed, will be made via email and/or text message.

Hand Hygiene 

Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of most infections. Several studies have indicated an association between hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and reduction in school absenteeism due to infectious illnesses.

Immunization Requirements 

Regulations currently require students to be vaccinated against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and varicella. Although a Covid-19 and Flu vaccine are not required, the CDC highly recommends that all children ages 6 months and up and all adults receive a yearly vaccine.

Exclusion 

The law and regulations provide for exclusion of students from school if immunizations are not up to date, but exemptions are permitted at school entry for medical and religious reasons. The only exception for exclusion of unimmunized or partially immunized children without medical or religious exemptions is for homeless children: The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Communication

Our goal is to communicate accurate, timely information to our community members via a range of media. We anticipate that families will actively seek out information in order to stay informed of school and classroom news, events and opportunities.

To ensure that you receive these communications, please add/update your contact information in our database, Veracross. As a reminder, user names are formatted as: firstname.lastname.

Weekly Newsletter and School Communication

• School Leadership Communication
  Tower School Administrators and the Board of Trustees periodically inform the community of overarching news of the school, curriculum and community. The format of each may include: email, virtual meetings, or on-campus gatherings. Archived copies are posted online in the Communications Hub.

• Tower’s Weekly Newsletter, The Spotlight 
  The Spotlight informs the community of school news, meetings, registrations and opportunities to be involved. The newsletter is distributed to parents via email. Archived copies are posted online in the Communications Hub.

• Classroom Communication
  In addition, teachers may periodically email parents directly with updates, curriculum news and student accomplishments happening in the classroom. 
   

Urgent, Time-Sensitive Communication 

Tower uses automated communications to announce urgent information; these may include delayed openings, school cancellations, school bus delays or early dismissals. The following communication methods may be used, as appropriate for the situation:

• Voice Messages
  Recorded voice messages to parents' home and cell phone numbers listed in Veracross
• Text Messages
  Text messages to parents’ cell phone numbers listed in Veracross
• Website
  Closing or delayed opening are announced on the homepage at towerschool.org and Facebook
• Television Listings
  Weather-related closings or delayed openings are made on Boston TV Channels, 4, 5 and 7, after 6:30 am

Meetings/Community Event Reminders 

• Text Messages
  Text messages to parents’ cell phone numbers listed in Veracross. Meeting and event reminders are used sparingly. To ensure that you receive these voice and text communications, please add/update your email address in our database, Veracross. As a reminder, user names are formatted as: firstname.lastname.
   

Communication Between Parents, Teachers and Administrators

Open communication between parents, teachers and school administrators creates a partnership and shared expectations that serve the best interest of each child. Parents are encouraged to begin conversations with their child’s homeroom teacher or advisor. Parents are also welcome to contact the Division Heads, the Head of School or other administrators to schedule an appointment. 

Parents should communicate with faculty and administration via email. During the school day, teachers are busy with students, class preparation, teaching, extra help, etc. Teachers are not expected to check email while working with students during the school day, however, they will make every effort to respond in a timely manner.

How to Reach Us

• For daily issues, general questions, or to relay a message to your child, please contact the receptionist at 781-631-5800 or via email. 
• To report that your child is unwell, please email Paula Cardarelli, Director of Health Services.

Faculty Directory

• Find email addresses for faculty and administrators in our faculty directory.
   

Tower School Website

Whether you're a long-time Tower family or one just beginning your years as a member of the Tower school community, we want you to be familiar with our school's mission and the academic and athletic curriculum we develop to achieve this mission for students. We also want you to know how your support underwrites our mission. Visit our website.

• MyTower
  Tower parents have a dedicated section of the website called MyTower. There, you’ll find access to the School Calendar, Summer Reading, Tower School Parents Association, School Store, Enrollment information, the Communications Hub, School Bus Schedule and more. Visit MyTower at towerschool.org/mytower. 
   
• School Calendar
  Our school calendar is accessible in a variety of views to suit a range of needs. 
  • Access our all-school calendar view at towerschool.org/mytower/school-calendar 
  • Access our dynamic, personalized calendar view, customized for Individual households and students events/schedules via the Veracross parent portal. Login is required; as a helpful reminder, user names are formatted as: firstname.lastname.
  • Access the Calendar Highlights page of the website for an at-a-glance overview of major school events, early dismissal days and school breaks for the full year. https://www.towerschool.org/mytower/calendar-highlights-2023-2024. 
     
• Tower School Family Directory
  The Tower School Family Directory is accessible via the Veracross parent portal. Veracross login is required—as a helpful reminder, user names are formatted as: firstname.lastname.
  
  The directory is strictly for communication between members of the Tower School community. It may not be used by families or faculty for commercial or solicitation purposes, nor may it be shared with others beyond the school community.

Marketing 

Media Release

Each year, families have the opportunity to review the media release statement in Family ID (copied below). If a family would like to exempt their child from Tower School’s media use, at any time, they should complete the form in Family ID, and notify the school via email at hello@towerschool.org.

Tower School publicizes the accomplishments of our students in print, broadcast and online/digital media. This may include, but is not limited to, press releases to local and regional media sources, the school’s website, publication, print and digital advertising and social media.

Further, Tower School may use your child’s or your family’s photograph, school work, and video and/or voice recording in our school marketing materials. This may include but is not limited to the school’s website, publications, brochures, print and digital advertising and social media.

Tower School is an academic institution dedicated to excellence in scholastic pursuits. Our Mission: “We teach our students to think critically and creatively, to develop joyful curiosity, to embrace challenge and apply their knowledge with confidence, and to thrive within a community rich with diverse perspectives and talents.”  

Progress Reports and Conferences

Parents will receive written progress reports on a regular basis throughout the school year. Additional time is reserved for parent-teacher conferences. Parents are expected to attend the pre-scheduled conference days in the fall and winter to meet individually with their child’s teachers.

Note: 8th Grade students are expected to join parents during winter conferences. This is a capstone experience where students will be involved in discussing their progress and growth in separate sessions with each core subject teacher and parents present. 8th grade students will spend time with teachers leading up to the winter conference reflecting on their growth and preparing for their conferences.

Grade Level Requirements

All students at Tower will receive reports that indicate grade-level progress in their academic subjects. Beginning in 6th grade, letter grades (A, B, C, D, and F) are given in all subject areas. Students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 5 who successfully complete grade-level work at Tower, and students in grades 6–8 who, at the end of a marking period, maintain a C- or better grade in each course, are usually deemed to be satisfactorily completing their academic work. In some instances, students in grades 6–8 who, at the end of a marking period, maintain a grade below C- in a given course, may be placed on academic warning.

Grading

All assignments that factor into the trimester and year end grades will be documented in Veracross Gradebook. 

• Grades are not rounded by the subject teacher, at the end of each trimester, or at the end of the year. (i.e. a grade of 89.99 will be entered in Veracross as 89.99)

• Numerical grades are converted to letter grades at the end of term and end of year. Please see the chart below for letter grade equivalents.

• Students may check in with teachers or advisors at any time for their current class average.
   

Letter and Numerical Grade Correspondence 
 

Student Preparation

We expect students to be properly prepared for the day. This means that students thoughtfully, thoroughly, and independently complete homework assignments and arrive with devices and supplies.

Homework

• Regularly-scheduled homework in the Lower School begins in 2nd grade; routines and time requirements for homework are age-appropriate and will be clearly communicated by grade level teachers.
• Homework is routinely given in the Middle School core classes (Math, English, History, Spanish, and Science).
• Homework is not routinely given in the Middle School arts classes. Occasionally, to meet the responsibilities of a class, writing or reading work might be assigned. 
• In Middle School, students receive up to 20-30 minutes of homework per subject per night.
• Please provide a consistent and appropriate study area at home.
• Please encourage your child’s study efforts by assisting with prioritizing work, quizzing them on factual material (vocabulary, math equations), or listening to an oral report.
• Please do not do their work for them; intellectual growth comes from working independently on difficult material.
• Students are encouraged to check in with their teachers on difficult points in person or by email. 
• In the event a Middle School student is absent from school, and the student is well enough; after checking Google Classroom, the student should email their teachers to be clear on homework expectations. Any materials that are not available online can be placed in the front office for pick up if requested by the student. 
   

End of Year Spring Assessments: 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Students

• The goal of end-of-year spring assessments is to teach students the process of preparing for, and taking, a year-end assessment. Furthermore, the goal is to engage students and provide them opportunities to perform and to show their knowledge, skills, and understanding in a variety of ways across the curriculum. Assessments are determined by individual teachers and may include a range of different assessments (tests, projects, simulations, seminars, debates, etc.) 

• Spring assessments for 7th and 8th grade are worth 20% of the trimester 3 grade.

• Teachers dedicate in-class time leading up to assessments to review material and to prepare students for each individual class experience

• 6th Grade students are provided a year-end spring assessment experience in which non-weighted tests and projects are given in each subject. The intent is to prepare students for future challenging and engaging  year-end assessment experiences in 7th and 8th grade.
   

Honor Roll and High Honor Roll: 7th and 8th Grade Students 

• At the conclusion of each trimester, 7th and 8th grade students earn placement on the high honor roll by having at least a 94 average, with no grade lower than a B-. Students will earn placement on the honor roll by having at least a 90 average to 93.99 average, with no grade lower than a C. 

• All trimester end class grades will be included and weighted evenly when calculating the cumulative trimester grade and all three trimester cumulative grades will be weighted evenly when calculating the year end average.

End of Year Awards: 7th and 8th Grade Students 

• The Silver Academic Achievement Award is awarded to each student in the 7th and 8th grades who finished the school year with a cumulative grade point average of 90 to 93.99.
• The Gold Academic Achievement Award is awarded to each student in the 7th and 8th grades who finished the school year with a cumulative grade point average of 94 or higher.
• The First Scholar Award is given to the student in 8th grade who has maintained the highest standard of academic achievement within the graduating class based on year end cumulative average.
   

Transcripts

• Transcripts are issued only for the 7th and 8th grade years

• Letter grades for each trimester and year end cumulative grades appear on the transcript. Teacher’s comments are not included on the transcripts

• Transcripts are used in the Secondary School Placement process

• If a student needs to have information released for grades before 7th grade, the last report card for that year and/or previous years is released with parent permission

• Requests for all transcripts should be made through the Director of Secondary School Counseling
   

Standardized Testing

Standardized tests are administered each year. Each spring the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP 5) is administered in grades 5 and 6 and families receive individual score reports. In the fall, all eighth grade students take the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), some for practice only and others as part of the secondary school admission process. All seventh grade students take a practice SSAT.
 

Student Records

For each student enrolled, Tower maintains a record of test scores, grades, teacher comments, special reports, admissions materials, and other pertinent matters. Upon graduation or withdrawal, student records are culled and archived. All parents (custodial and noncustodial) and students over 18 years of age have access to these records upon request.
 

Classroom Assignments

Students are placed into all homeroom groupings or other class placements by the division heads after thoughtful consultation with the previous year’s teachers.
 

Academic Support

The well-being of children is our primary concern at Tower. We understand that not all children develop in the same manner and at the same rate; we are dedicated to supporting the abilities of each of our students. If a child encounters difficulty with curriculum, we will work with families to develop a plan of action. We provide a variety of resources: classroom accommodations, extra-help sessions with teachers and structured study halls. Students requiring extra assistance may receive tutoring in the Learning Skills Center. If parents have arranged for tutoring to take place at home, we expect families to inform their child’s teachers. On occasion, a professional evaluation of a student’s particular learning style via diagnostic testing may be recommended. Since we do not offer these services in school, we will make every effort to assist families in locating outside resources.

Parents should feel assured that Tower School will make every effort to work with families toward a successful outcome when a child faces difficulty with the academic program. On very rare occasions (and despite the collective efforts of teachers, parents, and the student), all available interventions do not meet the learning needs of the student. In those cases, the school will work closely with the parents to find more appropriate school placement.

The school has professionally trained learning specialists to work with students to support skill development and to address specific learning needs. The cost of Learning Skills services are not covered by tuition and parents must pay an additional fee for this service. Learning Skills fees for students whose family receives financial aid from the school are prorated according to the level of financial aid.