FAQ’s For New Families

Information for New Angier Families

Welcome to the Angier School community! This page is intended to provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions and direct you to other resources for information.

Useful Links:

Angier School Website: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/11
Angier School Handbook: www.angierpto.org/school-info/angier-handbook
Angier Calendar at a Glance: www.angierpto.org/calendars
Bus Information: www.newton.k12.ma.us/transportation/index.html
Food Services Newton Public Schools: www.newton.k12.ma.us/foodservices/index.html
Early Morning Program: www.newton.k12.ma.us/earlymorningprogram
NPS Resources for Families: www.newton.k12.ma.us/families

Communications:

Don’t miss out! Be sure to fill out a Directory Form to get your information into the PTO Student Directory database. In addition to the Directory – an invaluable community resource for families planning playdates, etc. – the PTO uses this information to send out announcements, newsletters, and important messages from the Principal, so please make sure we always have an up-to-date email address on file. If you do not wish your information to be published in the Directory, you can select the appropriate “Do Not Display” options, and your information will remain private.

FAQs:

What is the entrance age for kindergarten?
Your child must be five years old before August 31, 2021 to enter kindergarten in September 2021.

Who is Angier’s principal and how can I communicate with her?
Our principal is Orla Higgins Averill. You may contact Orla via email at higginsaverillo@newton.k12.ma.us, or call the school office at 617-559-9300 to schedule an appointment to meet with her. The assistant principal is Saundra Watson. You may contact Saundra via email at watsonsa@newton.k12.ma.us.

Who is Angier’s administrator?
Claudia Rossi keeps our school running smoothly. The school office phone number is 617-559-9300 and you can email Claudia at rossicl@newton.k12.ma.us.

Who is the school nurse?
Angier has a full-time school nurse, Cornelia Culici. The nurse may be contacted directly during the day at 617-559-9312.

Who are Angier’s Kindergarten teachers?
For the 2021-22 school year, Angier has three Kindergarten classrooms, led by Geri Russillo, Paige Schale, and Anna Harris. The number of classrooms per grade is determined each year by the Newton Public Schools, based on enrollment.

What time does school start?
The school day begins at 8:10am with the first bell. Children may enter the school at that time. Those who arrive earlier must wait outside with their parents or guardians until the bell rings at 8:10am. Classes start at 8:20. Children arriving at 8:25 are considered late and must sign in at the office. Children who are registered for the Early Morning Drop-Off program can be buzzed in starting at 7:20am.

When will I learn who my child’s teacher is?
Parents are notified of class assignments for all grades by email in late August. At that time, you will learn your child’s teacher and classmates.

What are dismissal times?
Dismissal time is 2:50pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 12:20pm on Wednesdays.

Can I park in the staff parking lot during the school day (7:30am to 4pm)?
No. All parking spaces are assigned to staff members only. Accessible parking spaces near the entrance will be available to families who need them. You must have an accessible parking permit or permission from the school office to use these spaces.

What if my child will be absent from or late to school?
If your child will be absent or late, you must use SchoolPass to notify the school. If your child is not in school and you have not made note in SchoolPass or called the office, the school secretary will call your home for an explanation of the absence. If the child cannot be located or accounted for, the school will contact the Newton Police immediately. In the case of an anticipated absence, please notify your child’s teacher in writing in advance.

What if I need to pick my child up early from school?
If you need to have your child dismissed early, you must log into SchoolPass to notify the school that your child will be leaving early. Be sure to make an entry in the Sign-Out Log. As part of Angier’s Safe Dismissal Program, the school will not release children during the school day except to a parent or to another adult designated by the parent on School Pass or by a call to the office. The school cannot release your child to another parent or adult unless we have notification.

What if the weather is bad?
The City of Newton makes every effort to notify residents of school cancellations, delayed openings or early dismissals through the Reverse 911 Telephone System. Radio announcements are made over AM radio stations WBZ (1030) and WRKO (680), as well as TV channels 4, 5, 7, 56, and Newton Cable TV. You may also log on to www.newton.k12.ma.us  or call 617-559-9699 for a recorded message. Please do not call Angier or the Newton School, Fire, or Police Departments. Although schools may be open on days following snow or ice storms, parents should use their own judgment in determining whether road conditions in their area permit children to proceed safely to school. The judgment of the parent is accepted as a legitimate reason for student absences in such cases.

When and where does my child catch the bus?
If your child lives in an area serviced by the Angier Bus you will need to fill out a transportation application.  The instructions to complete the process is available online at https://www.newton.k12.ma.us.

Is there an early drop-off program?
The Newton Public Schools offers an Early Morning program for students in grades K through 5 in each of the elementary schools. The program offers supervised before-school care from 7:20AM to 8:10AM when the first bell rings. Interested families can find more information, register online, or download an application on the Newton Public Schools website at https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/.

Is there after school care for my child?
There are three after school options for Angier families: Angier After School Program (AASP), Rec Place Afterschool, Inc., and Countryside Children’s Center (CCC).

What is the difference between AASP, Rec Place and Countryside Children’s Center (CCC)?
Not much! All three provide great after school care. The main difference is that they are in different locations—AASP (Angier AfterSchool Program) is currently located in the Angier school, Rec Place is located in Newton Lower Falls, and Countryside Children’s Center is in Newton Upper Falls. Children take a bus to Rec Place and CCC. None of the after school programs have a direct affiliation with Angier.

How does lunch work at Angier?
All children in grades K through 5 eat lunch at school every day except Wednesdays.  They have the option of bringing lunch from home or using the school lunch program. Please ensure that all lunch items are nut-free. For details on the Newton lunch program, please visit the Newton Public Schools website.

What about snack time?
Every class has snack time either in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Please ensure all snack items are nut-free. During the first few days of school, most teachers will send home specific snack guidelines for your child’s class.

How can I be involved at Angier?
The Angier PTO is an active group of parents and teachers working together to support our kids and our school. Every Angier family is a member of the PTO. The PTO helps support our teachers, community, and our school in the areas of educational enrichment, community engagement, and ongoing school support. We welcome you to join us and get involved in the Angier PTO. New parents on our PTO committees brings an infusion of new ideas, energy, and creative talent to help keep our programs dynamic and strong. Please visit www.angierpto.org/your-pto/our-committees to find out more, and see which committee might be right for you. Volunteering as a classroom parent, or working in the Angier library are also great ways for new families to make friends and help us build a strong Angier community. 

Contacts:

You’re never a stranger at Angier!