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. You can access the school lunch calendar and menu here. 

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
Governor Hochul signed the NY State’s new Distraction Free Schools law in 2025. This law, effective September 3, 2025, prohibits the unsanctioned use of personal internet-enabled devices (like smartphones, smartwatches, or tablets) by students in grades K-12 during the entire school day, from "bell to bell", including during lunch and between classes. 

Students at BPCS have been going bell to bell without their personal internet-enabled devices for several years already. Four years ago, we began using Yondr pouches in grades 5-8 as a means for students to safely and securely lock up their devices and store them in their backpacks. In the years since we have instituted our Yondr pouch policy, we have seen our students be more attentive in class, spend less time out of the classroom in the bathroom, and we have reduced the social conflicts between our upper grade students. We fully support Governor Hochul’s new law, as we have already reaped the benefits of going device free throughout the school day.  

In the past, students in our lower grades had been required to power down their devices and store them in their backpacks (this is no longer permitted under the new state law). Students in grades K-4 will not receive Yondr pouches, but they will be required to power down their cell phones and smart watches and store them in a classroom lockbox for the entirety of the school day. 

The goal of the Distraction Free Schools law is to create an optimal learning environment, foster deeper student engagement, and support student well-being. Research shows personal devices are significant distractions, disrupting instruction, hindering concentration, and limiting in-person interactions. This policy aims to:

Improve Student Focus & Academic Performance: Allowing students to fully engage with lessons and participate more actively.

Enhance Human Connection & Social Skills: Encouraging face-to-face interactions and stronger relationships.

Support Student Mental Health: Reducing issues from social media pressure and constant digital connectivity.

What does this mean for your child? Not much will change for students at BPCS. Students should not use personal internet-enabled devices at any time during the school day while on school grounds. School-issued devices for lessons are permitted. If your child brings a personal device for use before or after school, we will provide a safe, secure place for storage during the day. Personal items like backpacks are not considered adequate storage according to the new state law. In grades 5-8, we will continue to use Yondr pouches as adequate storage for these devices. Information about our Yondr pouch policy is outlined below. Students who participate in out lunch will have access to their phones while they are off campus. An email about out lunch will be sent to 6th-8th grade families separately in the coming weeks. 

For emergencies, you can always reach your child via the school office at (212) 266-5800. Students can also use a school phone in the office to call home if needed. Please have this conversation with your child at home to help reduce any stress, and so that they know that landline access to a phone is always available for an emergency. In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, the school will use the DOE Messenger app to communicate information to parents or guardians.

EXCEPTIONS

• Students are allowed to use their device if they have an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan that includes use of an internet-enabled device and do not have a DOE-issued device for such purpose.

• Parents/guardians must contact Angie O’Reilly, our parent coordinator, if a student requires an exception for reasons such as: medical monitoring/treatments (for example to monitor blood sugar or other similar circumstances), if student is a caregiver, for approved language purposes (such as translation or interpretation services if no other means are available), or where otherwise required by law.

• The principal/designee may authorize use for an educational purpose.  

• Exceptions will be processed and approved within three school days. 

In the unlikely event that a student’s device is lost, stolen, or damaged at school, families may submit a claim through the NYC Comptroller’s Office. More information on filing a claim is available at: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/services/file-a-claim/

We will support our students and families, focusing on teaching responsibility and maximizing learning time. We believe this expansion of this policy at BPCS will profoundly impact our students' learning, social development, and overall well-being. We appreciate your partnership in creating a focused and enriching educational experience.

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, or backpack (3K-4th grade) - 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.