Length of School Day:
School hours for students are as follows:
        8:40 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. (Kdg - Grade 6)
        9:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (Pre-school)
(Doors to school do not open to students until 8:30 a.m.)  On early dismissal days, school ends at 1:15 p.m.
On delayed opening days, school hours will be 10:40 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Board of Education:  The Knowlton Township School District is governed by a Board of Education made up of nine community members elected to the Board.  The Board is the official policy-making body of the school district and holds its meetings at 8:00 p.m. on the second Monday and 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month, except July.  Meetings are held at school and are open to the public.  For further BOE information, please click here.

Parent-Teacher Organization:  The Knowlton Township Parent-Teacher Organization exists to support and work with the school for the benefit of students.  Over the years, the organization has been instrumental in providing our students with activities, programs, and equipment that have enhanced their total school experience.  Parents and staff members are encouraged to join P.T.O. and to actively participate in it.  The P.T.O. meets once a month in the school library.  The meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.  For further PTO information, please click here.

School Calendars:  School calendars are updated regularly on the website.  The yearly calendar can be obtained by clicking here.  The monthly calendar is available by clicking here.

Emergency Information Forms:  Parents are requested to complete these forms so that the school may file and refer to them in case of accident or sudden illness.  Information on address, place of employment, and person to contact in the parents' absence is gained from the forms which are issued in September.  Parents are reminded to complete one for each child and to report any changes in the information immediately.

Emergency Closing of School:  Please click here.

Leaving School Early/Tardiness:  From time to time, compelling circumstances will require that a student be late to school or dismissed before the end of the school day.  Justifiable reasons may include medical or dental appointments, family emergency, or other good cause.  However, tardiness can be disruptive to the educational program and daily classroom procedures.
    Students who arrive late to school (beyond 8:40 a.m.) must be signed in at the school office by the parent or the person authorized by the parents to act on their behalf.  Likewise, students who leave school early must be signed out in the school office.  Students who are being picked up at dismissal time rather than riding home on the bus, must be signed out in the sign out book with the dismissal duty teacher.  Parents must notify the office in writing if they plan to pick up their child(ren) at dismissal.

Attendance:  School attendance is compulsory in New Jersey for every child between the ages of six and sixteen.  Regular attendance at school is critical if your child is to reach his/her fullest educational potential.

Absence from school:  All absences from school are considered unexcused except those for illness, death in the immediate family, or religious holidays.  Whenever your child is absent, you must call school between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to inform us that your child will be absent, as well as the reason for the absence.  Board policy requires the school nurse to call at home or at work those parents who fail to meet this responsibility, since we want to know the whereabouts of every child on every school day.  If no telephone contact is made, then the parent must provide a note explaining the child's absence upon his/her return to school.  A child returning to school after an absence without a note or without the parent having notified the school by telephone is considered to have been truant.
   The school will automatically notify you by letter when your child has accumulated 10 absences and/or tardies, and the child's subsequent attendance will be closely monitored by the school administration.
   These regulations are not meant to be punitive, but rather to highlight the importance of regular school attendance.

Vacations during school:  There may be times that a family vacation must be taken during school time because of unusual circumstances.  Because the child misses valuable school time, parents are asked to avoid, where possible, taking vacations during this time.  The Board deems absences for vacation purposes as unexcused.  Students who plan to be absent from school because of a vacation must have the parent write a letter to the Superintendent explaining the reason for absence and the educational value of the trip.  The classroom teacher will only be required to provide a listing of the material being covered during the child's absence, not specific detailed work.  It is not practical to assign a week's worth of homework when the child is not present to benefit from daily instruction.

Religious Holidays:  The State provides the Board of Education annually with an approved list of religious holidays.  The law provides that any pupil absent only because of a religious holiday may not be deprived of recognition for perfect attendance.  Also, pupils who miss a test because of absence on a religious holiday must be given the right to make up the test.  Absences due to religious holidays must be recorded on the school register as an excused absence; however, such absence must not be recorded on any transcript or report card.  To be entitled to these provisions, the student must present a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian.

Transportation:  The Board shall provide transportation to all resident students enrolled in our school district.  Children may only ride on their assigned bus; "courtesy rides' on other buses are not permitted.
   The Student Code of Conduct booklet specifies rules of conduct while riding the bus, as well as consequences for misbehavior.  Students are expected to wear seat belts at all times while riding the school bus; parents' cooperation in this matter is needed and will be appreciated.
   Bus routes and bus stops are arranged so as to serve the best interests of the most number of students.  While we will try to accommodate parents' input regarding placement of bus stops, safety and efficiency must take priority over convenience.  School bus drivers are not authorized to make route or stop changes without the permission of the Superintendent.
   During entrance and dismissal times, no vehicular traffic (other than school buses) is permitted in the front parking lot.  Parents who transport their children to or from school must use the East parking lot during these times.

Alerts:  The district will attempt to alert parents regarding any information received from the State Police or county office with regards to criminal activity in the area that would affect our students, i.e. child abduction, suspicious activity.  Information will be shared regarding alerts in our district and adjacent districts at the discretion of the Superintendent.

Lunch/Recess:  Students are scheduled for a half-hour lunch period and a supervised recess period.  Since the recess period is held outdoors, weather permitting, be sure your child is appropriately dressed.

Transfer Students:  Parents of students enrolling in our school from another school district must present proof of residency, a transfer card and health records from the child's previous school at the time of registration.  Upon receipt of the academic records, there is a one day delay between the student's enrollment and the start of classes to allow for scheduling and processing.
   Students leaving our school district cannot be issued a transfer card until all financial and other check-out responsibilities have been met.

School Lunch Program:  Children may purchase a balanced lunch at a nominal cost.  This includes milk and dessert.  The lunch program is operated as part of the National School Lunch Program and all menus meet their requirements.  Ice cream and other snacks are available for an extra charge.
    Children who choose to carry their lunch may purchase half pints of milk also at a nominal cost.
    Children buying lunch should purchase tickets to be used over extended periods of time.  Free and/or reduced price lunches are available for those who qualify.  If a child must charge a lunch due to unforeseen circumstances, a maximum of two lunches per month may be charged.
    For current month's lunch menu, CLICK HERE.

Child Study Team Services:  A Psychologist, Learning Disabilities Specialist, Speech Therapist, and Social Worker are employed to work with pupils, parents, and teachers on all grade levels.  Some of their functions are to diagnose learning difficulties and social maladjustments; advise and assist teachers and supervise in remedial measures; and recommend special services and placement for handicapped children.  Parents who feel the need for intervention services on behalf of their child should contact the Vice Principal, who coordinates activities of the team.

Entrance to Kindergarten Program:  It is the policy of the Knowlton Twp Board of Education to admit to the Kindergarten program children who have reached the age of five years prior to October 1st.  Each spring, the school schedules registration and screening for incoming Kindergarten students, with a follow-up parent/student orientation in June.  A doctor's physical, immunization records and the child's birth certificate must be presented at the time of registration.