FAQs

Norwalk BOE Policy 5113

• sickness death in the family
• religious observance/instruction
• family emergency of short duration
• medical/dental appointment

(We strongly urge that appointments be made outside the school day.)

Unexcused absences (any absence without a phone call or note from parent/guardian)

• missing the school bus
• car trouble or other problems getting to school regarding transportation
• staying home to baby-sit
• oversleeping
• inclement weather family vacations

In keeping with the philosophy that students need to maintain regular attendance at school, we strongly discourage families from scheduling any trips other than during the normal school vacations. If unusual circumstances arise, contact the guidance counselor.

Inclement Weather Protocols

• DELAY: All delays are two hours in duration. Morning care will operate on a delayed schedule.
• CLOSURE: All schools are closed for the day. All after-school activities and programs are canceled.
• EARLY DISMISSAL: Schools open on time, but will end earlier than the regular school day, generally 2 hours before normal dismissal times. All after-school programs are canceled including after-school care. Early dismissals will be called by 10 a.m.
• AFTER-SCHOOL CANCELLATION: School opens and ends at the regular time but all after-school programs are canceled.

• DELAY: Program will have a delayed start of 2 hours.
• EARLY DISMISSAL: After school programs are canceled. CASPER at Carver Center will still pick up students and dismissal will be from Carver Center.

Where to Find Inclement Weather Announcements

To ensure the information you receive is accurate, we encourage all families to rely on official NPS sources. School delays, closures, early dismissals and after-school cancellations are communicated in the following places:

• Norwalk Public Schools website: www.norwalkps.org
• ParentSquare message -- text, email and phone call
• NPS Social Media:
  • NPS Facebook
  • NPS Twitter (twitter.com/norwalkps)
• NPS Info Line recording: (203) 854-4123
• Local TV, radio and online media outlets, including:

On days when weather may impact the school day, we ask that parents and guardians check these sources frequently for information. Parents and guardians should always make sure their child’s school has up-to-date contact information on file.

Although rare, changing conditions may require that a delay is changed to a cancellation, or that an early dismissal is called after the school day begins. We will make every effort to avoid changes, but there are times when it cannot be avoided.

What to Do When You Have a Concern

Ladder of Referral

If a parent/guardian has a question or concern regarding their child's progress or well being within the school program, we urge you to follow the steps outlined below. Parent concerns about a student related to teaching staff should be referred first to the teacher. If your concern is not addressed to your satisfaction, then please follow the procedure outlined below:

Teacher

As soon as you have a concern, send a note, call, or email the teacher during school hours. Leave your name, phone number and time you can be reached. Please also follow this procedure for concerns about special programs and/or services. Teachers wish to hear more, not less, from parents. The majority of misunderstandings can be resolved with the teacher.

School Counselor

The School Counselor should be contacted before contacting the Principal.

Assistant Principal or Dean of Students

If the issue has not been resolved to your satisfaction, send a note, call, or email the Assistant Principal.

Principal

If the issue has still not been resolved to your satisfaction, send a note, call, or email the Principal.

Central Office

If necessary, the principal will direct you to staff at Norwalk Public School’s Central Office.

Superintendent and Board of Education

After appropriate discussion with Central Office personnel, decisions may be appealed first to the Superintendent and ultimately to the Board of Education. Any appeal to the Board should be in writing and signed.

If you have questions or concerns about a teacher, please begin by contacting the teacher first. If your concern is not addressed to your satisfaction, then please follow the procedure outlined below:

1. Contact the Teacher
2. Then contact the School Counselor, Dean, or Social Worker
3. Then contact the Assistant Principal
4. Then the Principal
5. Then the Assistant Superintendent
6. Then the Superintendent
7. And last, the Board of Education

The Ladder of Referral is part of the NPS Behavior Interventions and Expectations Guide.

ParentSquare is a unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school or the district. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Sign up to volunteer
• Schedule parent-teacher conferences
• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Click here to register your account!

Download the FREE ParentSquare app! (Apple iOS or Android)

We look forward to you and your family joining our community soon. Use the links below to find more information about how to register an incoming kindergarten, how to register a new student to the district or intra-district transfers.

Kindergarten Registration

New Student Registration

Intra-District Transfers

The safety and security of our building is paramount to ensuring we create and maintain a positive learning environment. The mission of school safety and preparedness at BMHS is to maintain and protect the physical and psychological safety of all students, faculty and staff in our building. Your cooperation and support are essential to our efforts in safeguarding our school community. Below are key security measures we have implemented: 

Campus Access

• Single Point of Entry: Once the school day begins, all exterior doors will be locked. Everyone must enter through the main doors after 7:30 am. 
• Visitor Protocol: All visitors must check in at the security desk and obtain a visitor badge before entering any part of the school. All visitors must bring a valid ID for verification. Visitors must wait in the location as directed by security until met by the appropriate staff for escort to a meeting location. Visitors may not walk unattended inside of the building.
• Building Security: All exterior doors will remain locked during school hours. Only authorized personnel with key fobs have access to these doors, and no one will be allowed to enter without proper authorization. As such, students must not open exterior doors for anyone at any time. That includes for parents, Uber Eats, DoorDash(which are not allowed under any circumstances). Doing so will result in a disciplinary consequence. 

School Preparedness

• Drills: All of our safety procedures follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) created by the I Love U Guys Foundation. We will conduct regular drills for various emergencies, including lockdown and evacuation procedures. These drills are crucial for preparing students and staff to respond effectively in real situations.
• Emergency Contacts: Please ensure that your emergency contact information is up to date with the school office. This information is vital for effective communication in case of an emergency.

Surveillance and Security Personnel

• Monitoring: Surveillance cameras are installed in key areas around the campus to monitor activities and enhance safety.
• Security Staff: Our security team will be present on campus during school hours to oversee safety measures and address any concerns.
• SRO: A Norwalk Police School Resource Officer is assigned to our building and is available inside of the building throughout the school day. A patrol officer is also onsite and available outside of the building. 

Safety

• BMHS School Preparedness Committee: Our school safety committee meets on a monthly basis to review and revise our school safety procedures. 
• Reporting Concerns: Encourage your child to report any suspicious activity or safety concerns to a staff member immediately. Anyone can also make an anonymous report using this site: https://www.anonymousalerts.com/norwalkps/
• Staff Training: All staff members participate in mandatory and monthly safety drills to stay updated on the best practices for ensuring safety.
• Facility Checks: We conduct regular inspections of the school facilities to address any potential safety hazards promptly.
• Personal and Situational Awareness: We encourage you to discuss safety with your child and emphasize the importance of being aware of their surroundings and following school policies.
• Information Updates: We will keep you informed about any changes or updates to our security measures through regular communication channels.

We appreciate your support and partnership in keeping our school a safe place for all students. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Qadir Abdus-Salaam, Assistant Principal, BMHS

PowerSchool Parent Portal offers parents the ability to access their child(ren)’s grades and attendance.  

• One parent portal account can be linked to all of your children
• You can set up notifications to be sent to your email
• The district will also be sending forms that you can complete via the parent portal
• Once your account is set up, you can use the mobile app for added convenience
• You can also see fee balances and lunch account balances

Reach out to your school(s) to receive the Access Information needed to link your child(ren) to your account.

Click here to sign into the Parent Portal