The school day is from 8:20 am – 2:30 pm. When students arrive at school, they gather in the gymnasium until the first bell at 8:20 am. Following the first bell, students engage in morning prayer and the pledge of allegiance as a school community. Mrs. O’Leary makes any brief morning announcements. Students then report to their homerooms with their homeroom teachers.
While JCOS does not have a formal program for early drop-off, coverage is available for your child each day beginning at 7:45 am, for those families that require an early drop-off.
JCOS students have both summer and winter uniforms. Summer uniforms are typically worn from the first day of school in September through the first Friday in October. Winter uniforms typically begin the Tuesday after Columbus Day in October and are worn through the end of April. Summer uniforms are worn once again from the first Monday in May through the end of the school year in June.
- For girls in grades 2-8 the summer uniform consists of a navy blue plaid skirt or navy shorts, a short sleeved light blue JCOS polo shirt, navy blue knee high socks or tights, and black sneakers.
- For girls in grades 2-8 the winter uniform consists of a navy blue plaid skirt or navy pants, a long sleeved light blue JCOS polo shirt, navy blue knee high socks or tights, and black sneakers. No large jewelry is permitted. No makeup is allowed and only clear nail polish is permitted. Girls may wear navy blue or white hair ribbons, headbands, or simple barrettes in their hair.
- For boys in grades 2-8 the summer uniform consists of navy blue shorts, a short sleeved light blue JCOS polo shirt, black socks, and black sneakers.
- For boys in grades 2-8 the winter uniform consists of navy blue pants, a long sleeved light blue JCOS polo shirt, black socks, and black sneakers.
The students at JCOS have gym twice each week. On gym days, the students must wear their gym uniforms to school. The gym uniform consists of navy blue shorts in the summer or navy blue sweat pants in the winter, both with JCOS printed on them. The gym uniform also consists of a light blue JCOS tee-shirt in the summer and a navy blue JCOS sweatshirt in the winter. Students should wear white socks with their summer gym uniforms and navy blue socks with their winter gym uniforms. On gym days only, students may wear sneakers of a color other than black.
During cold weather, all students may wear their navy blue JCOS zip-up fleece or their light blue JCOS uniform hoodie. Other types of sweatshirts may not be worn in class.
Approximately once a month on a Friday, students are permitted to participate in “Dress-Down Day” if they submit $5.00 for fundraising. Those students who choose to participate in “Dress-Down Day” don’t have to wear their school uniforms on that day. Instead, they may wear any appropriate clothing of their choice to school. On occasion, the students are also awarded a “Free Dress-Down Day” for something that they have earned or achieved.
JCOS has a wonderful system for updating students’ homework assignments and upcoming tests. It is a web-based system called SchoolNotes. You can access the system at www.schoolnotes.com. Once you access the system, you need to sign up as a parent. You should scroll down to the bottom of the web page to the part that indicates parent sign up. You should “Search by School” for JCOS. There is a drop down menu that asks for the country, state, district (private for JCOS, regardless of your district of residence), and the school’s name. Once you have completed this registration process, you will then be able to locate your child’s homeroom, reading, and math teachers. You can subscribe to each teacher’s page so that you will receive emails directly from SchoolNotes to let you know when the teacher has updated his/her page. There is also a link on each teacher’s page where you can email the teacher directly. JCOS faculty and staff are most willing to respond to communication from parents. Your expectation for a response should be within 24 hours during the school week between the hours of 3-6 pm. If you need immediate assistance, you should call the office directly. SchoolNotes is wonderful communication tool between families and the school.
In addition to SchoolNotes, the children also write their homework down in their planners each day. It is important to check your child’s planner each day as well as to check his/her folder for any handouts, flyers, or other important information.
JCOS students bring their lunch from home each day. The exception is on Thursday. Each Thursday, the children have the option to have pizza for lunch as the school orders from a local pizzeria. The children can select either a slice of pizza and a bottle of water for $3.00 or 2 slices of pizza and a bottle of water for $5.00. The money for the pizza is collected in advance. You can purchase coupons in ten week increments for either one slice of pizza and a bottle of water for $30 or for two slices of pizza and a bottle of water for $50. Students can also buy pizza on a week to week basis for the prices listed above, rather than purchasing coupons for ten week increments.
We are delighted that you and your child have joined our JCOS family. There are many ways for you to get involved. You can volunteer to help at an event such as the Fall Book Fair, Pasta Night, Fall Beautification, the Christmas Pageant, Family BINGO Night, or Spring Fling.
In general, JCOS follows the delayed opening and/or closing policy of the local school district, which is Irvington. However, since JCOS students come from many different locations, Mrs. O’Leary, our principal, reserves the right to make an alternate decision upon discussion with the Regional Superintendent, Dr. Noelle Beale.
Once a decision is made, you will receive an alert through the IRIS system. This means that you will get a phone call both at home and on your cell phone, an email, and a text message, depending on how you register on the IRIS alert form at the beginning of the school year. You will receive this form from Mrs. O’Leary’s office at the beginning of the school year and you will be directed to return it to Mrs. Packes by a designated date. There will not be information available on the school phone line regarding school closings and delays.
IRIS is the only system that is used to convey these messages. If you do not receive an alert in the morning, it means that school is open and that it will start at the regular time. As far as buses are concerned, the buses will follow the schedule of your home district. If your home district closes, and JCOS does not close, you would have to make alternate arrangements for your child’s transportation to JCOS. Similarly, if your home district has a one or two hour delayed opening, and JCOS does not, your child’s bus would arrive either one or two hours later to pick him/her up for school.
The deadline for requesting transportation from your home district is April 1 st. Prior to April 1 st, you must contact the transportation department of your home school district in order to fill out the necessary forms to enable your child to continue to receive transportation to and from school for the following school year.
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed by the District of Residence (DOR), in the pubic school district where a student resides. An Individualized Education Services Plan (IESP) is a document that requires the public school district where a nonpublic school is located, the District of Location (DOL), to provide special education services to students with disabilities enrolled in nonpublic elementary and secondary schools by their parents. The Committee on Special Education (CSE), of the district of location must develop an IESP for students with disabilities who are New York State residents, and who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic elementary or secondary schools located in the geographic boundaries of the public school. The Irvington Union Free School District is responsible for developing an IESP for students attending JCOS.
The deadline for requesting related services for your child from the Irvington School District is June 1. Prior to June 1 st, you must notify the Irvington School District, in writing, of your intention to enroll your child at JCOS for the upcoming school year and of your desire for related services for your child. You will receive forms to fill out from Mrs. O’Leary. These forms must be submitted to the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Gail , at the Irvington Union Free School District. They must be submitted prior to June 1 st and they must be submitted certified mail, return receipt.
Students at JCOS are taught by New York State certified special education teachers who utilize multisensory teaching techniques. All JCOS teachers are trained in Preventing Academic Failure (PAF), Judith Hochman Writing, and Orton-Gillingham Methodology.
Catholic religious instruction and values are taught daily and infused in all subject areas. Preparation for the sacraments takes place in Grade 2 (First Communion) and Grade 8 (Confirmation). Students participate in First Friday Mass as altar servers, readers, and gift bearers. JCOS welcomes children of all faiths.
JCOS is pleased to provide several specials for your child each week. Your child will attend art and music once a week. In addition, your child will attend physical education two or three times per week depending upon his or her grade. Your child should wear his/her gym uniform to school on the days that he/she has physical education class.
Yes, your child will also have the opportunity to participate in the JCOS band. Band is an elective that is offered by Paul Effman Music. Mr. Gus Cuccia comes to JCOS every Friday to provide instrumental music lessons for those children who have enrolled in band. Each year approximately half of our JCOS students choose to enroll in band. Students rent their instruments from Paul Effman Music as well. Advanced band students perform in the Christmas Pageant Concert and both beginner and advanced band students perform in the Spring Fling Concert. Teachers are very accommodating of the students when they attend their band lessons. The teachers primarily try to engage in review work during the band lessons on Fridays so that students aren’t missing instruction of new material while they are at their instrumental music lessons.
Your child will also have the opportunity to participate in the JCOS chorus which is led by Mrs. O’Leary. Chorus members meet weekly with Mrs. O’Leary to practice their songs. The chorus sings at the Christmas Pageant in December, at Spring Fling, and at eighth-grade graduation in June.
There are several different ways that students are recognized at JCOS for their hard work, effort, achievement, and good citizenship.
- Character Awards: Students in grades 2/3 – 4 are not eligible to receive honors’ awards. However, all students in grades 2/3 – 4 are eligible to receive character awards for their good conduct and citizenship. Character awards could be granted for conduct such as kindness, patience, generosity, thoughtfulness, and other traits that show exemplary behavior and school citizenship.
- Principal’s List : Students in grades 5 – 8 are eligible to be included on the Principal’s List at the end of each quarter. In order to be included on the Principal’s List, a student must have a minimum overall average of 95% with no report card grade less than 90% in any academic area. In addition, the student must have no special subject, character development, conduct, or effort grade less than an “A”.
- First Honors: Students in grades 5 – 8 are eligible to be included on the First Honors’ Honor Roll at the end of each quarter. In order to be included on the First Honors’ Honor Roll, a student must have a minimum overall average of 90% with no report card grade less than 85% in any academic area. In addition, the student must have no special subject, character development, conduct, or effort grade lower than a “B”.
- Second Honors: Students in grades 5 – 8 are eligible to be included on the Second Honors’ Honor Roll at the end of each quarter. In order to be included on the Second Honors’ Honor Roll, a student must have a minimum overall average of 85% with no report card grade less than 80% in any academic area. In addition, the student must have no special subject, character development, conduct, or effort grade lower than a “B”.
No, at this time the students at JCOS do not take the New York State Common Core assessmnts in ELA and Mathematics. However, the students at JCOS are taught curriculum from the common core. The teachers at JCOS modify the common core curriculum material so that it is accessible to our learners and their needs.
Yes, JCOS does accept students from out of state. New York State residents who are enrolled by their parents in a nonpublic school receive an IESP; out of state residents who are enrolled by their parents in a nonpublic school receive a Services Plan (SP).
The transportation policy is specific to your child’s District of Residence (DOR). You should contact your District of Residence (DOR) directly with any questions about transportation.
Yes, all related services, speech, OT, PT, and counseling are provided at JCOS.
Preparation for the TACHS begins at the end of the 7 th grade and continues until the administration of the TACHS exam in November of the 8 th grade. Students with disabilities who have documentation for extended time are given time and a half for the TACHS exam. TACHS results are individual in nature.
JCOS is affiliated with Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington.
Classes at JCOS are small to ensure individual attention and instruction. Gender breakdowns vary by grade.
JCOS does not utilize a resource room, and instead equips every classroom with Smartboards to increase visual and audio stimulation. In addition, JCOS offers listening centers for children who benefit from auditory learning and Chromebooks to provide assistive technology as well as independent learning opportunities.
The use of electronic devices by faculty administration, staff, and students must be appropriate to the educational setting, and may not distract the student, other students, or the class as a whole during the course of the school day and after school. Inappropriate use of any electronic device may result in serious consequences as stated in the school’s Technology Use Policy.
Cell phones are not permitted to be activated during the course of the school day, and must be kept in the student’s backpack. In addition, the school is not responsible for the loss of any electronic device(s). Electronic devices will only be used during the school day for educational purposes during class time.
Each JCOS family is required to participate in the annual fundraising campaign by submitting $750 annually and a Home School Association Fee of $100, both collected through SMART Tuition.
