School Hours / Arrival and Dismissal
PS 59 School Hours are 8:00am - 2:20pm
School Cancellations and Delays: The Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education determines school closings and delayed openings by 6:00 am. Parents can find updated information by checking the DOE website (http://schools.nyc.gov), by calling 311 or by listening to local news radio (1010 WINS), local TV stations or cable channel NY1. Any school closings will effectively cancel all field trips and after school programs.
Absences / Illness
Regular attendance is critical for a child’s self esteem and academic success. If your child is absent, please provide the teacher with a note of explanation. All absences are recorded. Absences can be recorded as “excused” if a doctor’s note is submitted as well as a note for religious observances or death in the family; however the absence will still remain on your child’s attendance record. Parents can access their child’s attendance by inquiring with the classroom teacher or by logging on to schoolsaccount.nyc
If Your Child Is Absent...
You should call the school to report an absence, especially if your child is in an upper grade. These students frequently come to school alone and we want to be certain parents are aware their child is not in school. Students in all grades should return to school with a note from their parent.
If your child has been out of school with a contagious disease (such as chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, pink eye, etc.) your child must return with a doctor’s note.
Attendance and Lateness Procedures
IF YOUR CHILD IS LATE…
The school day begins at 8:00 each day. ANY STUDENT WHO IS NOT PRESENT AT LINE-UP WITH THEIR CLASS IS CONSIDERED LATE.
Students who are late should enter the school through the front door and receive a late pass at the security desk or main office (after 8:00 am). Students will be marked late on their attendance record. This information is part of the child’s permanent record, which follows the child throughout his/her public school career. Students are to present this pass to their classroom teacher as they arrive. If a student comes to class late without a late pass, the teacher will ask the child to go downstairs to the security desk or main office to receive one. All children who are late MUST have a late pass. Teachers will keep these passes on file for the remainder of the year.
IF YOU ARE LATE PICKING YOUR CHILD UP AT DISMISSAL…
Parents are expected to pick up their child on time each day. Children who have not been picked up on time are brought to the Main Office. Parents who are late will be required to sign their child out in the “late book” in the main office when they pick their child up. Please keep in mind that consistent lateness can be upsetting for the child and is disruptive to the staff. If an emergency situation arises, please call the main office and explain your lateness and we will be happy to work with you and care for your child.
Nurse's Office & Medication
A full-time Department of Health nurse is located within the school. If a child is ill or injured during school hours, he or she will be sent to the nurse’s office.
Should your child require regular administration of medication, (i.e. use of an inhaler or epi-pen for emergency use), a parent must complete and submit a Medical Administration Form 504 available from the school nurse. Neither teachers nor the school nurse may dispense any medications unless the student has a “504 form” on file.
If your child needs any medication, please speak with the school nurse. If your child has a medical problem such as asthma, please also inform the classroom teacher directly so that s/he will be aware of any medical needs your child might have during the day.
Requesting A Meeting With Your Child's Teacher
Making an Appointment With Your Child's Teacher
When there is something you wish discuss with your child’s teacher, please:
- Write a note to the teacher requesting a time to meet.
- If the teacher doesn’t respond to your note promptly, please leave a phone message for the teacher in the main office.
- If you still need assistance reaching the teacher then contact the Main Office at 718-390-2190 who will help to arrange a mutually acceptable time for a meeting between you and your child’s teacher.
- You may also contact your child’s teacher via email about a non-urgent matter, using their DOE address which can found in the resource section of this handbook.
Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy
As part of a statewide mandate to support safe, focused, and healthy learning environments, our school will implement a bell-to-bell cell phone and personal electronic device policy beginning September 2025. This policy is in alignment with New York Education Law Section 2803 and Chancellor’s Regulation A-413. For more information on this policy, visit the NYCDOE Family-Facing Page.
Legal Background: New York Education Law Section 2803, enacted in May 2025, requires all public schools to prohibit the use of personal internet-enabled devices (such as smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets) by students during the school day, with exceptions only for educational use, medical needs, emergencies, or legal requirements. Chancellor’s Regulation A-413. revised in June 2025, mandates secure storage of student devices, clear communication procedures for families, and written policies shared with all stakeholders.
Effective the first day of school:
- School hours: Start Time: 8:00- End Time 2:20
- Students will place their devices in locked storage boxes as they enter classrooms and secure them in front of school staff.
- At the end of the school day, students will retrieve their device locked storage boxes in all classrooms.
- Students are not allowed to engage with their device until they have exited the school building.
- Students arriving late will turn in their devices upon arrival and retrieve them at the end of the school day.
- Please notify our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Kristen Druda at Kdruda@schools.nyc.gov if you are picking up your child early - so we can have their device ready.
- This policy applies throughout the entire school day, including lunch and hallway transitions.
- School-issued devices, approved to be used for instruction, are not affected.
- Exceptions will be considered for medical or language based needs. Parents/guardians must contact Kristen Druda/ Parent Coordinator at Kdruda@schools.nyc.gov or at 908-605-0240 if a student requires an exception for reasons such as: medical monitoring/treatments (for example to monitor blood sugar or other similar circumstances) or for approved language purposes (such as translation or interpretation services if no other means are available). Exceptions will be processed and approved within 10 school days.
Emergency Communication: In the event of a school emergency (such as an evacuation, lockdown, or shelter-in-place), we will promptly notify all parents and guardians via email with updates and instructions.
Progressive Discipline Policy: Students who use electronic devices in violation of the NYCPS Discipline Code , the school's policy, Chancellor’s Regulation A-413 , and/or the NYCPS Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy ("IAUSP") will be subject to progressive discipline. This means that the disciplinary responses will escalate based on the nature and frequency of the violation. A parent or guardian will have to pick up the device from an Administrator.
If you need to contact your child during the school day:
- Call our main office: 718-390-2190
- Call our parent coordinator at 908-605-0240
- Email our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Kristen Druda at Kdruda@schools.nyc.gov
Suggestions for Families:
To help your child prepare for being without their devices at school, we recommend the following:
- Set Device-Free Times: Establish specific times each day when devices are put away for family interactions or homework.
- Engage in Activities: Encourage participation in non-screen activities such as reading, puzzles, or outdoor play.
- Practice Mindfulness: Introduce mindfulness exercises or discussions about feelings related to device use to help build resilience.
Other: Lost or Stolen
- In the unlikely event that an electronic device is stolen or damaged at school, parents can submit a claim to the Comptroller’s Office. More information on submitting a claim is available on the Comptroller’s webpage.
We appreciate your partnership in creating a focused, respectful, and emotionally healthy school environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
