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Capital Campaigns
Capital campaigns are special campaigns that raise funds for long-term and substantial improvements in the
school. They insure the future health of the school, as opposed to Annual Fund contributions, which support the
current program.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Calendar
School begins the Wednesday after Labor Day and continues through the second or third week of June. Three
days may be added to the calendar at the end of the year to make up for snow days. If snow days are
needed, parents will be notified by May 1. On the last day of school students are dismissed at 12:00 (noon)
before lunch.
Curriculum Days
Touchstone's educational program is integrated and thematic, and curriculum of this type requires much
planning by teachers. To assure that program quality is high, approximately one day a month is set aside as a
Curriculum Day, with no classes meeting. Teaching staff uses these days to plan curriculum, meet with staff, visit
other schools, take part in professional workshops and write progress reports. The Extended Day Program offers
child care on Curriculum Days. If you need child care on these days, contact the Extended Day Program
Director. Refer to page 41 of this booklet for additional information.
Communication
News Notes is a newsletter posted on the web each Thursday. It includes information about what is happening
at the school and in the community. It can be accessed at:
Every parent is sent an e-mail reminder on Thursday afternoon. Paper copies can be requested from the office.
Parents may submit articles to be included in News Notes. Submissions must be in the office by 8:30 a.m. on
Tuesday. The preferred method for submission is electronically. Send your submissions either in the body of an
e-mail or as an attachment to newsnotes@touchstoneschool.com. All articles are subject to review and editing
by the administrative staff.
At the beginning of each school year a Touchstone Family Directory which includes names, addresses, and
phone numbers for all students as well as information on staff and Board members is printed and distributed to
every family. Student information is listed alphabetically as well as by class.
Other notices are sent home with the children, so be sure to ask your child each day if they have any “kid
mail”.
Copies of News Notes and other school forms are kept in a rack outside the office window.
Snow Days
The Head of School decides whether school will be closed due to inclement weather. These decisions are
made independent of area school systems and take into account the wide geographic area from which
students and staff come. School closing will be announced on WBZ (AM 1030) Radio and channel 4 TV, WTAG
(AM 580) Radio and WSRS (FM 96.1) Radio. A notice will be placed on the school’s web site on the snow days
page and a message will also be placed on the school answering machine by 7:00 a.m. The Extended Day
Program does not operate on days when the school is closed due to inclement weather.
It is the responsibility of parents to find out if school has been closed. When school is in session, but the weather
is problematic, parents should use their own judgment about road conditions and keep their children home or
pick them up early if they feel this is the safest thing to do.
If there is a delayed opening, Before School Care is not available. Students should not be dropped off any
earlier than 15 minutes prior to the announced start time.