An academic gifted and talented program is offered to fourth through sixth grade students who meet established criteria. These students, who have a high overall intellectual ability, are provided with activities designed to increase their critical and creative thinking skills. They are given work that develops their curiosity, imagination, willingness to take risks and tolerance to complexity. There is a close monitoring of students in the program between the classroom teacher and the gifted and talented teacher.  A gifted and talented program is also offered in the areas of art and music.

The North Hanover Township School District has implemented a continuing program of computer literacy. Introduced in kindergarten, this program progresses sequentially through grade six. Labs have been installed in the schools to meet the ever changing needs of our community and society.

The music program offered at the North Hanover Township Schools is designed with the concept in mind of aesthetic education in action. The major goal is to increase the sensitivity of all children to the power of music as an art form, to develop their abilities to perceive the art of music keenly and to respond to it deeply. Non-artistic values - the social, psychological, physical, and other benefits of involvement in music are recognized and included.

The vocal and instrumental music program offer a wide variety of experiences such as general music classes, vocal experiences, pre-band training, ensemble experiences and theory instruction. In all activities, the components of music such as mood, tone, melody, rhythm, form and harmony are given individually and as components of a unified whole.

Art in the elementary school is both a body of knowledge and a series of activities which the art teacher organizes to provide the student with experiences in using this knowledge. The experiences are related to specific goals determined by the nature of the activity, the desired objectives and the interests, abilities and needs of the children. In art class, children express their ideas with visual materials, involve themselves in the examination of works of art from different cultures and develop aesthetic problem solving skills through a creative and intuitive approach.

The Basic Skills Improvement Program has been developed to provide academic, supplemental services for students in reading or writing and/or mathematics. This program permits a student to receive supplemental instruction either individualized or in a small group setting outside the classroom or by way of in-class support in the specific area of his or her particular academic need. Students are identified for participation in this program by means of a multiple measure including teacher recommendation, report card grades and standardized testing results. Parents of identified children receive a notification letter inviting their child to participate in the program.

Individualized and small group instruction is provided for the special needs students in classes staffed by specially trained teachers. Their training enables these teachers to work with students' specific learning disabilities and/or emotional problems which are interfering with the acquisition of academic skills and their successful reintegration into the regular classroom program.

The Speech and Language Program involves individual and group therapy sessions. The children are screened for speech and language problems in kindergarten and as parent and teacher referrals are received. Prior to therapy, the child is evaluated and an Individual Education Plan is developed jointly with the parent.

Boys and girls are responsible for keeping all buildings, books, supplies and equipment in good condition. By exercising proper care, students may avoid paying for careless or undue damage to school property.

All problems arising in the classroom should first be discussed with your child's teacher. All questions concerning administrative policy or problems centered in any one building should be referred to the building principal. If he or she is unable to answer your question satisfactorily, he or she will refer it to the proper office.

All valuable articles found at the school or on busses are taken to the principal's office. Other articles are placed in a lost and found container. You or your child should report any loss as soon as possible. Parents are urged to mark clothing, footwear and other items with the student's name.

Not excluded until first signs appear: Chicken Pox, Mumps, German Measles, Regular Measles, Whooping Cough, Scarlet Fever.

Excluded until permission from the family physician is obtained: Poliomyelitis, Spinal Meningitis, Typhiod, Diphtheria, Smallpox, Fifth Disease.

In order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and to insure rapid recovery with a minimum of after effects, parents should keep children at home when they show evidence of any of following symptoms: Skin Eruption, Earache, Pink Eye, Enlarged Glands, Coughing, Ringworm, Vomiting, Fever, Running Nose, Stomachache, Sore Throat, Chills, Red or Discharging Eye, Diarrhea.

Discipline is of the utmost importance and self discipline is encouraged among all students. Without good discipline there is little learning. Parents will quickly be informed regarding a pupil's serious breech of the school's rules and regulations. If in the judgment of the principal, a pupil's behavior is such that it is detrimental to the welfare of himself and/or the other pupils or teachers, he or she will be excluded from school for a reasonable period of time and be permitted to return only after a conference has been held between the parent and the principal. Parents are asked to assist the school in the enforcement of all school rules and regulations.

Fire drills are held regularly as required by law. Each room has a sign informing the pupils what to do in case of fire.  Teacher are kept informed on the latest techniques used in dealing with catastrophes and plans have been formulated in case of emergency.

The elementary schools have as their primary task the provision of a sound educational function for life. Special effort is made to present a curriculum that is relevant to current social demands and practices.

The elementary school curriculum is developed through the principals, faculty and community members to the Superintendent of Schools.

Children are taken on field trips only with permission of parents. Out-of-town trips are arranged in advance and children planning to attend are given permission slips to be signed by the parent. Since these trips supplement the child's learning, it is desirable that all children participate. Those not attending are expected to attend school that day.

A carefully planned series of parent-teacher conferences will be arranged. This direct contact between home and school is most beneficial in analyzing and understanding your child's progress and development. After school conferences may be arranged at any time through the school office.

The Board of Education provides textbooks, workbooks and a reasonable quantity of supplies such as paper, pencils and crayons.  Pupils are expected to exercise reasonable care in handling of textbooks and other school materials. If books or equipment are lost or destroyed, they are to be paid for by the pupil or the parent.

The lunchroom is available to all pupils. Hot lunches are provided at a reasonable cost. Milk is available for all pupils at a price established by the Board of Education.  Participation in either the lunch program or milk program is highly beneficial for the health of your child.

Cafeterias have a computerized point of sale (POS) cash handling system and maintains an "account" for each student. Lunches are be purchased daily or pre-paid by sending checks (preferred) or money in an envelope with child's name, grade, room # and amount indicated on the outside of the envelope. Prepayment can be in any amount and sent in on any day, but Monday's are preferred. Questions about the School Lunch Program may be directed to Marsha DeVos, Food Service Director, at 758 - 0620.

Lunch menus are available at our web site.

Accident insurance is available at a nominal cost. This covers: (1) school time, (2) class trips, (3) travel to and from school and (4) other school sponsored activities. Twenty-four hours round the clock insurance is also available. Application forms for this insurance are renewed annually in September.

Children of grades 2 and 5 and all new students, at the discretion of the school, are examined each year by the school physician assisted by the school nurse. Parents are notified of any problems. Included in these periodic examinations is a cursory dental inspection. However, the final responsibility for the health of a child rests with the parents.

The school attempts to provide an environment in which the child will be safe from accidents. If an accident or sudden illness occurs, first aid will be administered and the child's parent notified. No care beyond first aid, defined as the immediate temporary care given in case of an accident or sudden illness, will be given by the school physician or nurse.

If it is necessary for your child to receive medication during school hours, written permission signed by the attending physician is required. This permission includes the following:  reason for medication, name of medication, dosage to be given and the time it is to be administered.

The medication should be brought to the principal's office in the original pharmacy container and properly labeled with the child's name, name of medication and dosage of medication to be given along with the physician's written permission.

Self-administration of medication by a pupil for potentially life-threatening illnesses may be permitted. Please contact the school nurse in your child's school for information.  Permission forms for medication are available from the principal's office.

The Child Study Team is composed of specialized, professional personnel who are trained to study and evaluate a child's performance and to make education recommendations that would improve the child's school performance. A basic Child Study Team evaluation consists of a social, developmental and medical history by the school Social Worker, an assessment of the child's learning characteristics and academic achievement by the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant, and an appraisal of the child's potential for learning and social/emotional status by the School Psychologist. Based on the information gathered by the basic Child Study Team evaluation, extended evaluations such as neurological, psychiatric, vision/hearing, or speech/language evaluation may be recommended.

While many parents may not be familiar with Child Study Team procedures and benefits, it is important to understand that a referral to the Child Study Team is a positive action with your child's well being in mind. It does not necessarily imply that a serious problem exists but may be a means to develop new methods, techniques or programs to increase your child's level of performance within the school environment.

A referral to the Child Study Team may be initiated by a parent, teacher, school nurse, school administrator, special service personnel, medical specialist and professionals or agencies concerned with the welfare of the students when there is concern that a child may be potentially educationally handicapped. Each local public school district is required by law to develop a process for identifying potentially educationally handicapped pupils who are not receiving appropriate services. An educationally handicapped child is one who may be experiencing difficulties of a physical, emotional, academic, intellectual, or social nature to the extent that he or she is not able to function effectively in a regular school program. An evaluation by a basic Child Study Team is necessary to attempt to determine the basis for the difficulty, as well as the educational services required to aid the student in developing to his or her fullest potential.

With the passage of PL94-142, the Individual With Disabilities Education Acts of November 1975 and the reauthorization in June 1977, significant and positive changes have occurred in Child Study Team and Special Education procedures, the greatest for which is increased parental involvement. Due process procedures serve a dual purpose in insuring and protecting both parental and local district rights and obligations relative to the delivery of services for handicapped students. Before a student can be referred to the Child Study Team for evaluation written parental consent must be given. The district must notify the parent or guardian in writing of the specific reasons that a referral should be made and the specific action or steps that have been taken within the regular school program to remediate or ameliorate the difficulty. Written parental consent is also required before an initial change in placement can occur. If parent consent is denied, the district has the option of invoking due process on the child's behalf to provide the service deemed necessary by its professional staff.

Parents are also an integral part of the professional team that plans and develops the Individual Education Plan (IEP) for an educationally handicapped student. The development of an IEP involves the sharing of educational relevant information by persons who have knowledge of the student's educational needs, for example, parents, teacher(s), administrator(s), Child Study Team, school nurse, etc., to plan an appropriate school program for the child.

A student's IEP must be updated at least annually, and an assessment of the student's progress must be made to determine appropriate future programming for the child.

The complete rules and regulations pertaining to Child Study Team procedures and classified handicapped students are contained in the New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 6A, Chapter 14, Special Education. Parents of handicapped students who do not have a copy of the rules and regulations may receive one by contacting the Child Study Team office at 758 - 9725.

The North Hanover Township School District will test students' eligibility for pre-school handicapped programs. Any child is eligible for screening if he or she is between the ages of 3 years and 4 years, 11 months before October 1. The purpose of the screening is to observe and assess the child's general development in the areas of speech, language, motor coordination, social skills, vision and hearing. If you suspect your pre-school child may need special services, contact the Child Study Team office at 758-9725 for further information.

The Department of Health, Special Child Health Services of Burlington County provides programs and services for infants and toddlers form birth through two (2) years of age who have disabilities. These programs and services are free. Children and families requiring early intervention services should contact the Burlington County Case Management Unit at 267 - 1950.

In accordance with federal and state legislation on the privacy rights of parents and students, the Board of Education of North Hanover Township Public Schools has developed and adopted a local policy for the collection, maintenance and dissemination of pupil records. Essentially, the federal and state laws guarantee access to all records by the parent and/or legal guardian and limits access to pupil records by representatives of the educational institution.