Policies and FAQ's

How do I enroll my child?
Families of elementary school children living in our school zone may contact the school directly to register.
Please see our Admissions pages for more information.

Families of middle school students must be enrolled through the District 2 Family Welcome Center.

What is your school zone?
Our school is located in District 2 in Lower Manhattan. Our zone is south of Liberty Street, from the west side of Broadway to the Hudson River. Please note, 276 is considered a "zoned school" (priority given to those who live in the zone) for the lower school only; our middle school is not considered a zoned school.

Meals
“Grab and Go” breakfast is available for all students each morning in the lobby. Students may take breakfast with them to class and eat at the start of the day.

Lunch is available to all students free of charge. Students may bring lunch from home if they prefer.

What is your homework policy?
Homework has multiple purposes. It provides students with additional independent practice of what they have been learning in school, it can be used to teach organizational skills and time management, and it gives parents an insight into what students are doing in school. Homework should be developmentally appropriate, not stressful, and not busy work. That said, it is expected that all students read independently at home each evening. The books and the amount of time spent with books are obviously going to be different at different grade levels. In kindergarten, parents are going to be more involved. Homework in kindergarten is most likely going to involve parents and children looking at books together. Before homework like this is assigned, parents will be informed of expectations for reading and the various ways parents can help. As students advance through the grades, the homework policy will be modified. Families will be provided with guidelines for types of homework and suggested amounts of time that should be spent on homework.

After-School Program
Manhattan Youth coordinates our after-school program. Students get a healthy snack, participate in clubs, have homework time, and have free playtime. Each day, a variety of clubs are offered. The choices always include something athletic, something creative, and something academic. Most classes are in the 276 building (swim class attendees are taken by bus to Manhattan Youth). For more information, visit Manhattan Youth's website

Absences
Every absence is considered a significant loss of instruction. Please notify the office by 8:30 am if your child will be absent from school by sending an email to attendance@bpcschool.org or by calling 212-266-5800, ext. 1030. Voicemail will record calls regarding student absences before and after school hours. 

When a student returns after an absence, they MUST bring a written explanation, signed by a parent or guardian, to their homeroom teacher. The office will record on the daily attendance sheet if the student has brought in a note. Students are responsible for making up all work missed while absent.

Time Off
If your child is taking off more than 3 days due to travel, please send a copy of your itinerary to your homeroom teacher and our Attendance Coordinator, Daniel Fanelli, at daniel.fanelli@bpcschool.org.

Discharging
If you are (or might be) leaving PS/IS 276, please advise the Pupil Accountant, Sabrina Raza-Wiese at  sabrina.razawiese@bpcschool.org and your teacher and complete the Discharge Form provided by Sabrina.

Address Changes
Please email Sabrina Raza-Wiese at sabrina.razawiese@bpcschool.org proof of your new address so we can update your child’s biographical information in the Department of Education system.

School Cell Phone Policy
We have made our school a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning using a system called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in over 1,000 schools across 21 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment. 

We believe phones have great utility. We have also found that learning and social behavior improve drastically when students are fully engaged with their teachers and classmates. 

The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores phones, smart watches, and earbuds. Every student will secure their equipment in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their devices and will not use them until their pouches are opened during out lunch and at the end of the school day. Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.

Yondr recently surveyed over 900 school partners to measure the effects of creating phone-free educational environments. These schools achieved notable progress in multiple areas:

• 65% of schools saw an improvement in academic performance

• 74% of schools saw an improvement in student behavior

• 83% of schools saw an improvement in student engagement in the classroom

In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr Program at our school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I want to reach my child during the school day?

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the main office at 212-266-5800.

What if there is a school emergency?

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency preparedness protocol. 

Will my student’s phone be safe?

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch in their backpacks where it is completely safe.

Can my child still use their phone at out lunch?

Yes. They can unlock their pouch on the way out of the building and secure their phone again upon re-entry.

What if the Yondr pouch gets damaged or a student is caught on their phone?

The Yondr pouch is property of the Battery Park City School.  If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their phone, Administration will collect the phone/Pouch.  If a teacher sees a phone out during the school day, the phone will be confiscated and given to the administration. 

First offense of an unpouched phone = Phone confiscated + no out lunch  + Parents emailed

If a student damages their Pouch, they will be charged a $20 fee for a replacement.

Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff. 

Please do not text or call your child on their cell phone during the school day! If you need to get a message to them, call the school and we will help you.