Chambers School Handbook

Chambers School Handbook

2025-26

Chambers School Commitments 2025-25

KCSD Board of Education

Table of Contents

School Day Schedule

KCSD Calendar

Chambers Events Calendar

2025-26 Bus Information

Important Contact Info

Chambers School Staff

KCSD Parent Resources

KCSD Parent Portal

Arrival Plan

Dismissal Plan

KCSD Technology

Late to School?

Technology Assistance

2025/26 School Supply Lists for Chambers!

Attendance Procedures

Breakfast and Lunch Plan

Click for a message from Mrs. Berardi

Text/Email Messages

Report Card Schedule

Chambers School PTA

Picking Students Up at School

Chambers School BLT

Aftercare Program

Special Area Classes

Chambers Information Station

Dear Familes, It is my pleasure to welcome you back to Chambers Elementary School for the 2025-25 school year! We have a fantastic year ahead of us and I am excited of all that is to come! I am so proud of our incredible Chambers Community and how it has continued to come together to support our students! Please look through this guide and utilize it to help you become familiar with our policies and procedures here at Chambers. Although many things here will remain the same as they have been in the past, others may have been altered slightly. As you read through the material, please let me know if you have any questions. I can always be reached easily by email or on Teams. I look forward to a fantastic school year here at Chambers!

Mrs. Kate Berardi

Email Mrs. Berardi at kberardi@kingstoncityschools.org or message on Teams @Kate Berardi

Principal, Chambers School

Your Board of Education is composed of nine residents who have been elected by the qualified voters of the Kingston City School District. The Board is vested with the responsibility of setting education policy and carrying out the mandates of the New York State Education Department. The members serve without remuneration.

Board of Education

Email the KCSD Board of Education at boe@kingstoncityschools.org

2025-26

Chambers School

commits to...

• GROWING as independent learners

• THINKING critically

• UNDERSTANDING the connections between the things we are learning

• APPLYING our learning to the things we do each day

...using the ARCH to create better versions of ourselves, and in turn, strenghtening our community so all members feel safe, cared for, and loved.

Our Daily Affirmation

I will BEE the best that I can BEE . And take my learning seriously. Kindness to others is what I will show . Allowing the hearts around me to grow. I will show myself that today’s the day. I will be the best me, in every way.

• ASSESS who we are on the inside
• REFLECT on how we interact with others
• CHANGE our path when we see an opportunity.
• HELP our community to grow and become stronger, together

School Schedule

Click each for more info

Student Arrival Time - 8:45

Students arriving after 8:55 are late

Morning Announcements - 8:55

Student Dismissal Time - 3:00

Mrs. Kelder, School Nurse mkelder@kingstoncityschools.org Mildred Kelder on Teams

Key Contacts

Mrs. Potter, School Psychologist mpotter@kingstoncityschools.org Melissa Potter on Teams

Have a question? Please contact us!

Mrs. Malenski, School Social Worker hmalenski@kingstoncityschools.org Heidi Malenski on Teams

School Phone Number:845-943-3914

Mrs. Percy, Speech Pathologist vpercy@kingstoncityschools.org Valerie Percy on Teams

Mrs. Berardi, Principal kberardi@kingstoncityschools.org Kate Berardi on Teams

Mrs. Rojas, Bilingual Family Worker mrojas@kingstoncityschools.org Maria Rojas on Teams

Mrs. Salzmann, Office Manager ssalzmann@kingstoncityschools.org Susan Salzmann on Teams

Chambers School Drop Off Procedures

Due to safety concerns with parents and students walking through our parking lot during drop off, parents will NOT be able to park in our lot during arrival. ONLY cars dropping off at the TURN AROUND will be able to enter the Chambers parking lot.

• Cars may begin lining up at 8:35.
• Please pull up to the turnaround to drop your child off.
• ONLY STUDENTS will exit the car.
• Parents should NOT exit their car. We will assist your child in getting out of the car.

• If you would like to park and walk your child in, please park in the baseball field lot and walk across the field.
• For the safety of ALL, PLEASE DO NOT walk through the Chambers parking lot.

PARK HERE

NO PARKING

NO PARKING

NO PARKING

WALK THIS WAY

WALKER DROP OFF

If you arrive late and no one is at the side entrance to greet you, please walk to the front of the school and ring the bell. We will be out to greet you!

Late to School?

If you arrive after 8:55 and there is no one to unload at the turnaround, you MUST park and walk your child to the front door.

Please park here

Walk your child to the front door

Please do NOT enter through the front - BUSES ONLY

Chambers School Pick Up Procedures

Students will begin being dismissed at 3:00

Mrs. Sanzi, Mrs. Nelson, Mr. Gruber, Mrs. Stenta, Mr. Tirch's students exit at classroom doors. Please line up and wait for your child to be dismissed from their classroom door.

All Kindergarten and 1st Grade students exit here. Parents should line up on the grass and wait in this area.

All parents should park in the lot off of VanKeuren Highway. Please DO NOT pull into the FRONT of the school building. That area is for BUSES ONLY. Thank you!

Mrs. Vermilyea, Mrs. Gruber, Mrs. Dolan, Mrs. Heissenbuttel, and Mrs. Zeh's students exit at this door. Please line up on the Hives and wait for your student to be dismissed to you

Buses pull in from Morton Blvd. and begin dismissing at 3:00

Chambers School Bus Info

Students will begin being dismissed at 3:00.

Please click the bus below for route and stop times.

Buses pull in from Morton Blvd. and begin dismissing at 3:00

Attendance Procedures

• If your child is absent for any reason (vacation, illness, Dr. appt, etc.), please send them in with a note when they return to school.

• If your child needs to be picked up early, please send him or her in with a note so that we are prepared to dismiss them. If a student needs to be picked up early it must be done BEFORE 2:45. Early pickups will not be permitted between 2:45 and 3:00.

Meet Our School Nurse - Mrs. Kelder

If your child is having health issues, please contact the nurse. She is here to help!

Call Mrs. Kelder our school nurse at 943-3393

Title 1

Breakfast Plan

• Breakfast is availabe each morning at Chambers School (except for on a 2 hr delay) for all students that choose to have breakfast.

• Students are NOT REQUIRED to eat breakfast at school.

• Breakfast is served in the Cafeteria when students arrive at school, either on the bus or by car.

Lunch and Breakfast are FREE for all Chambers Students!

Lunch Plan

• Students will eat lunch in the cafeteria with their classes.
• Students will have recess with their class after eating their lunches.
• There is a hot lunch choice each day. Alternatively, students can also choose: PBJ, PB, Turkey, Ham, Tuna, or Cheese Sandwiches.

Title 1

Text and Email Messages

Change Info Form

All Parents and Guardians are automatically signed up to receive test messages and emails from the KCSD and Chambers School. If you are not receiving these messages, please make sure your information on file is correct. You can fill out the form to the right or can sign up additional numbers by following the link.

Please be on the lookout for our Chambers Weekly Update text/email, every Friday afternoon at 4:00!

Add numbers to receive texts/emails

Title 1

All Parents and Guardians are invited to join the Chambers PTA. We meet once per month on Teams and will continue to do so this school year! The PTA is always looking for parents to help out! Please join us! For more info, please contact: chamberselementarypta@gmail.com

Chambers School PTA

Title 1

Each year, we create a comprehensive plan for our school referred to as the Chambers SCEP. This is a working document that contains our school goals and action steps. The goals are formed by our 3 BLT committees:*The Wellness Team *The Culturally Relevant Education/CKLA Team *The Community Engagement TeamEach team meets on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 - 9:45. Family members are invited to join any of our teams at any time during the year! Please contact Mrs. Berardi if you are interested!

Chambers School Building Leadership Team (BLT)

Special Area Classes at Chambers

Students at Chambers School have one special area class per day, as well as one extra special area class per cycle (on one letter day per week you will see that they have two special area periods). Students participate in all kinds of great activities in special area classes and they have lots of fun being creative and learning new things!

Library

Music

Art

PE

Coach Ricketson and Coach Espinoza

Ms. Green and Mrs. Spoth

Ms. West and Mrs. Weiss

Mrs. Graziano

Picking Up Your Child

• If your child needs to be picked up early, please send him or her in with a note so that we are prepared to dismiss them. If a student needs to be picked up early it must be done BEFORE 2:45. Early pickups will not be permitted between 2:45 and 3:00.

• Please walk up to the front of the school and ring the bell. We will be out to greet you and will bring your child out to you!

Title 1

Thank you!