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School Policy
School Uniform
Cellphone Policy

School Policy

Expectations:

In order for all our scholar’s to achieve to their highest potential, we hold these expectations:

EPA Scholars will:

  • come to school each day on time wearing their EPA uniform;
  • complete all of their schoolwork all of the time;
  • follow directions from any EPA adults respectfully and immediately;
  • ask questions when they do not understand something;
  • conduct themselves in a way that makes them, their family, and their community proud;
  • help when they see that help is needed; and
  • set goals and work to achieve them

EPA Parents/Guardian will:

  • ensure that EPA Scholars arrive at school each day on time wearing the EPA dress code;
  • check that scholars have completed their schoolwork each day;
  • remain updated on the academic progress throughout the year of the scholar;
  • talk to their children often about their goals and help them to achieve them

EPA Faculty will:

  • Come to school each day prepared to engage our scholars in challenging lessons;
  • Make themselves available to scholars and their families outside of class;
  • Keep parents informed about their child’s academic and social progress;
  • Act as a role model for our youngsters (by being on time, prepared at all times. and always actively listening/learning about the needs of their scholars, etc.);
  • Create units and lessons that are engaging to scholars and prepare them for high school and college to make sure that each scholar is successful.

By holding each other and ourselves to these expectations, and by always putting the needs of our children first, we will ensure that all of our children grow academically, socially, and emotionally, graduating prepared for college to become great leaders and active citizens of our community.

HOMEWORK AND SUPPORTS

The EPA’s curriculum is designed to strengthen basic skills while developing critical thinking and a connection to the wider world. Homework plays a vital role in this progress.

The purpose of homework is:

  1. To reinforce and extend skills introduced during class that requires more time to attain mastery than the school hours provide.
  2. To provide different avenues for experiencing and understanding that material presented in class.
  3. To help EPA Scholars develop intellectual indolence and responsibility.
  4. To make a connection between the home and school by providing an opportunity for EPA Scholars to share their work at home.

Expectations

Scholars at EPA are given approximately two hours of homework each night (this breaks up into about 1/2 hour per core subject area). The type and frequency of homework vary from class to class. Teachers are responsible for designing and assigning the homework, and they give specific deadlines. EPA Scholars, need to start organized and aware of upcoming classes and the assignments due. Scholars who come to class with completing a homework assignment should keep in mind that Classwork and Homework total 40 percent of their final grade (see EPA Grading policy).

GRADING POLICIES

You need a 65% to pass a class. You should always have a good sense of what your grade is. Try asking yourself these questions (be honest):

  • Have I done all my homework and projects?
  • Have I turned in all my work?
  • Am I participating in class?

If you’re not sure, ask your teacher what your grade is. If you’re not passing, ask that teacher what you can do to raise your grade. Progress reports are also sent home every four weeks to keep you informed on how you are doing in every class. The grading policy has been broken down in the following manner:

  •  10% Homework
  •  30% Classwork/Participation
  •  30% Projects/Essays
  •  30% Assessments

FIGHTING

EPA maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards violence of any kind. This includes (but not limited to): fighting, play-fighting, bullying, and verbal violence such as gossiping, insults, starting rumors, making false accusations, or instigating a fight. Additionally, the school does not tolerate any form of violence through social networking or emails. Any such activity will result in a suspension.

FIRE DRILL PROCEDURES

We have a mandatory, zero-tolerance, NO TALKING policy from beginning to end the fire drill. This is a safety issue. Any student found talking will be suspended and require an adviser/parent conference. The specifics of exiting the building during a fire drill will be explained to scholars by their teachers.

FOOD, DRINKS, AND GUM

We ask that you do not bring these items to areas that are not designated for them. They attract pests such as mice and rats, and they distract from classroom learning time. If the temperature is over 80º F then you may bring a water bottle with you to school. Students are not allowed to chew gum.

GANGS AND GANG-RELATED ACTIVITY

Students are prohibited from gang involvement or gang activities while at school, at any school facility, at any school-sponsored activity, or on a school bus. Gang activities and gang involvement are described as (not limited to):

  1. Wearing, possessing, using, distributing, displaying, or selling any clothing, jewelry, emblems, badges, symbols, signs, graffiti, or any other affiliation in any gang.
  2. Committing any act or omission, or using any speech, either verbal or non-verbal (i.e.: gestures, handshakes, etc.), showing membership or affiliation in a gang.
  3. Using any speech or committing any act or omission in furtherance of the interest of any gang or gang activity, including but not limited to:• Soliciting others for membership in any gang.
    • Requesting any person to pay for protection or otherwise intimidating or threatening any person.
    • Inciting other students to act with physical violence upon any other person.
    • Engaging in concert with others in intimidating, fighting, assaulting, or threatening to assault others.
    • Committing any other illegal act or other violation of schools district policies.

GRIEVANCES

Any student grievances are important to the staff of EPA. To ensure that all grievances can be dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner, students should report any grievances IN WRITING to their adviser, the social worker, or the dean, who will assist the student in dealing with the situation.

HARASSMENT

Every student has the right to attend EPA and school-related activities free from all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexuality, disability, or any other reason. EPA considers all forms of harassment to be serious and will consider the full range of disciplinary options, up to and including expulsion.

Sexual harassment: All students are expected to treat one another courteously, with respect for the other person’s feelings; to avoid any behaviors known to be offensive; to stop these behaviors when asked or told to stop. All students are prohibited from engaging in offensive verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed towards one another. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, or other inappropriate verbal, written, or physical conduct a sexual nature directed towards any other individual. Anyone who is harassed in any way should contact his/her adviser, the social worker or guidance counselor, a teacher, the dean, or the principal immediately to report the offense. 

HEALTH SERVICES

Nurse: The school nurse is available for conference with parents/guardians, teacher, and physicians to ensure the health and safety of each student. For a student to be treated by the school nurse, he/she must fill out the Mt. Sinai medical forms. Every child receives the Mt. Sinai medical form in their Orientation Packet in the beginning of the school year.

Medical Office: The school medical office is used for emergencies and student healthcare. Any student who is too ill to attend classed will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian.

Medications: All medication intended for students shall be kept in the school’s medical office. Short-term prescription medication will be administrated only in accordance with the instructions on the prescription container and must be accompanied by a written request from the parent/guardian. Long-term medications to be given all year or for emergency situations, or for chronic situations such as asthma, must have written authorization from both the physician and parent/guardian.

Parents/guardians are to bring the medications to the school nurse (room 107) and pick up any unused medication at the end of the year.

Medications not picked up at the end of the year by the parent/guardian will be destroyed.

The administration of nonprescription medication is permitted only on a very limited temporary basis and with written parent/guardian permission only. The nurse will contact the physician should a question arise regarding any prescription or nonprescription medication/product.

School Uniform Information

EPA has a specific uniform that is required for all students. Uniform orders are placed through EPA. If you come to school without your uniform your parents will be called and asked to bring in your uniform or a school uniform will be provided on a loan, if available. Please refer to the uniform chart in the appendix and the bullets below for details on what you are allowed/ not allowed to wear to school.

  • EPA is committed to creating an atmosphere focused on academic achievement and personal development. To this end, the school subscribes to a uniform.
  • All scholars are expected to adhere to the uniform guidelines outlined in their orientation packet; please review the guidelines with your child during the first week of school.
  • At all times the clothing must be neat, clean and in good repair. Head coverings of any type (except those dictated by religious observance) may not be worn in school and may be confiscated by staff.
  • The uniform for the middle school consists of a maroon polo shirt (with EPA emblem), black pants, black shoes, and a black belt. Refer to charts to obtain specifications of uniform requirements.
  • The uniform for high school consists of a white long or short sleeved Oxford (with embroidered maroon EPA emblem), Black Pants for the boys and Plaid Skirt for the girls (#91) and Plaid Tire for both genders (#91).
  • The 1st-period teacher is the first line of defense to identify scholars who are not in uniform.
  • Scholars out of uniform will be sent to the dean’s office. They will not sit in class. 
  • Scholars will be required to wear the following for their gym class:
      – For the middle school, the gym uniform is Burgundy Sweat Pants and Burgundy Sweat Shirt/T-shirt with School Logo.
      – For the high school, the gym is Heather Grey Sweat Pants and Sweat Shirt/T-shirt with school logo as well as Heather Grey Mesh Shorts with School Logo.
  • No beads, hoop earring larger than 3 inches, bandannas, hats gloves, sunglasses, do-rag, or any other accessories a faculty member deem distracting from the educational environment, etc. allowed in school.

Scholars who do not wear uniforms:

  1. Automatically, report to the main office
    b. Contact parent/guardian to bring uniform
    c. Lend scholar a reserve uniform if parent/guardian is not available
    d. After three infractions, Parents / Guardian Conference to execute an Action Plan.
    e. If there are more than 3 scholars who have difficulty with adhering to the dress code, the issue will be brought to the attention of the Staff Grade Team.

Incentives:

  1. Occasionally, we will grant a dress-down day for scholars as a reward for adhering to the uniform policy and exhibiting PRIDE. However, should scholars not adhere to the uniform policy, no dress-down days will be granted.

Cellphone Policy

Following a vote by the Panel for Education Policy on February 25, 2015, Chancellor’s Regulation A-413 now permits students to bring cell phones and other electronic devices to school. In accordance with this regulation, the cell phone and electronic device policy at Esperanza Preparatory Academy is the following:

Esperanza Preparatory Academy Policy

To support our students, faculty, staff, and families, we have revised the electronics policy for the academic school year. Students may bring small electronic devices, including cell phones, to school. Students may not use cell phones or other electronic devices during the school day. To best support our students in complying with this policy, Esperanza Preparatory Academy is partnering with a company called YONDR to provide secure storage pouches for student devices. Students must store all devices in Yondr pouches upon entering the building.

How Yondr Works:

Before entering the building, students will turn off their phones and other electronic devices. Before leaving, staff will unlock the Yondr pouch, students will retrieve their devices and students will return the Yondr pouch. (Note: The example refers to the phone, however, all permitted devices must fit in the Yondr pouch otherwise they CANNOT be brought to school.)

How will families contact a student?

Parents and guardians noted on the New York City Department of Education Emergency Contact Card will call the main office at (212) 722-6507 to reach their child for emergency purposes. We ask that families not disrupt the instructional day for non-emergency concerns. Please alert guidance staff of any emergencies (such as a death in the family or an accident) so we can effectively support your child. Changes in travel and pickup plans can be communicated directly to your children as they will be able to turn on devices and access messages upon dismissal from school. 

What happens if a student vandalizes or damages a Yondr pouch?

Yondr pouches are school property. We expect that students will safeguard the pouches as they do their electronic devices within them. Any vandalism or damage to the Yondr pouch will result in a fee to replace the pouch.

What will happen if a student forgets or willfully withholds electronic devices and is found with the device in his or her possession?

The device will be confiscated and will not be returned directly to the student. A parent or guardian will need to pick up the device from the dean or other school personnel between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Additional disciplinary action can and will be taken for repeat offenders.

If you should have any questions or concerns regarding our cell phone and electronic device policy please feel free to contact the school at 212-722-6502