Guidelines and Policies
View the Family Handbook 2019-2020 for a quick overview of policies and frequently asked questions.
Uniforms
School uniforms are mandatory at the Beethoven-Ohrenberger. You have the ability to “opt out” of the uniform policy for personal/cultural/religious beliefs. If you desire to opt out, please contact the school office for details.
Beethoven (K1-2) Mandatory Uniform Policy – Navy tops, Khaki or navy-blue bottom – spirit wear allowed.
Ohrenberger Elementary (3-5) Mandatory Uniform policy – Navy tops, Khaki or navy-blue bottom – spirit wear allowed.
Ohrenberger Middle School (6-8) Encouraged Uniform policy – White polos or Navy tops, Khaki, navy or jean bottom (no rips or holes) – spirit wear allowed.
Spirit wear (for example: an Owls sports team T-shirt) will be available to purchase throughout the school year.
Uniform Free 1st Friday
On the first Friday of every month, students have the choice to not wear a uniform. In exchange, a suggested donation (amount of your choice) can be made to our school. 100% of the money raised will go back into our schools allowing enrichment opportunities and events for all of our students and families.
Uniform Exchange Program
Both schools maintain a FREE uniform exchange program that runs throughout the school year. Anyone can donate uniforms than no longer fit your student or pick out gently used uniforms to use for the year. Ask the main office at the Beethoven or Ohrenberger for the location of the uniform exchange program at your school.
Health and Wellness
Sick policy
Please do not send your child to school when he/she is ill. Below are some guidelines to help determine whether to send your child to school. Please call the school office (Beethoven: 617-635-8154; Ohrenberger: 617-635-8157) as soon as you realize your child will be absent. Keep your child home from school if he/she:
- Had a temperature greater than 100 degrees in the past 24 hours. The child can return to school after he or she has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Motrin.
- Had diarrhea, nausea or vomited the night before or the morning prior to school. Return only after being symptom free for 24 hours.
- Has been diagnosed with strep throat, pink eye (conjunctivitis), impetigo or other contagious conditions. Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication.
- Rashes: A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after the health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child’s return to school.
- Head lice (pediculosis). Stay home until treated and all nits are removed.
- Scabies (body lice). Stay home 24 hours after start of treatment.
- Has been prescribed an antibiotic but has taken the medicine for less than 24 hours
Colds: Mild illnesses such as colds are very common in young children. Most children with mild cold symptoms and no fever who feel well enough to go to school do not need to stay home. However, consider keeping your child at home is he/she is experiencing discomfort from cold symptoms, such as severe congestion and cough or did not sleep well the night prior due to cold symptoms.
Medical Problems
Please inform the school nurse of any particular medical problems our child may have. The school nurse is the only staff member who is able to administer medications. All medications must have a doctor’s order, a parent permission form and be in the original prescription bottle.
Remember: Frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of illness!
For additional information about Health resources and guidelines across the district, visit Health Services at BPS.
Mental Health
If you need support with mental health services for your student, we encourage you to connect with the professionals in each school – Alexis St. James works at the Beethoven and Kelly Welch is at the Ohrenberger. We also have a partnership with The Home for Little Wanders. To get support, you can fill out this form and share it with their teacher.
Enrichment
Tech Goes Home
Tech Goes Home helps bring computers, Internet, and training to those without so students can do homework, adults can find jobs, and seniors can connect with loved ones.
This program involves 15 hours of digital skills training conducted by a TGH trained staff member from the Beethoven-Ohrenberger.
Upon completion of TGH, participants have the option of purchasing a new computer for $50 and we help them sign up for low-cost Internet access.
For more information about this program, contact mgavin@bostonpublicschools.org.
Restorative Justice Practice
Learn more about the Restorative Justice Practice at the Ohrenberger.
Music
Making Music Matters (MMM) is committed to ensuring equity of access to quality Arts Education, specifically instrumental music instruction, to students in the Boston Public Schools. MMM welcomes all students. The MMM enrollment is deliberately inclusive and reflects the diverse student populations and various educational settings in each school.
Through student performances, Making Music Matters works to engage whole school communities, create multi-school collaborations, promote communication and cooperation among administrators/headmasters, inspire teaching and learning, involve and connect parents/guardians and homes, and to link schools across the District to their neighborhoods and to the larger community.
Most important, Making Music Matters brings the gift of music to our students. For many of our children, MMM’s in-school instrumental program is the only opportunity they will have to learn to play a musical instrument. Learning to play an instrument can alter a student’s entire school and educational experience. MMM is pledged to provide a vibrant arts experience in our schools and to encourage a life-long love of music in all of our students.
In addition, at the Ohrenberger, we also have a partnership with the Berklee College City Music Program (grades 6-8). Students who have gone through these programs have the opportunity to join our school wide ensemble, conducted by Mr. John, our music teacher.
Before and After School Options
This section outlines out of school time activities operated by the school and through partnership organizations.
Before and After School
The Beethoven and Ohrenberger Before & After School Programs provide quality before and after school care for students in grades K1 and up.
The programs are operated under the supervision of Beethoven and Ohrenberger staff members.
We provide a safe, supervised environment for activities that include homework/reading time, arts & crafts, sports, games, and other activities.
Activities are age appropriate and designed to meet students’ physical, intellectual, and emotional needs.
HOURS
Before School: Students may be dropped at school beginning at 7:00 AM
After School: Starting immediately afterschool until 5:30 PM
ENROLLMENT
Current Members- Current members are guaranteed placement for the next session if registrations are filled out completely by deadlines and tuition and fees are current.
Siblings of Current Members- Siblings of current members who are Ohrenberger/Beethoven students will be admitted automatically under the conditions described above.
New Members- New members will be admitted as space allows on a first-come first-serve basis. Registration forms and applicable tuition and fees must be paid.
Questions? For the Beethoven program, call the Main Office at 617-635-8149. For the Ohrenberger program, email Jill Sweeney at jsweeney@bostonpublicschools.org
Click here for the Ohrenberger Before & Afterschool Handbook and here to register.
Click here for the Beethoven Before & Afterschool Handbook and here to register.
BOKS
The Beethoven-Ohrenberger School participates in a free physical activity program called, BOKS, which is designed to give kids a healthy body and brain boost that will set them up for a productive day of learning.
The BOKS program is available for Beethoven students in grades 1 and 2, and for Ohrenberger students in grades 3-5.
There are two 12 week sessions offered in the Fall and Spring. BOKS is held before school on T, W & Th from 7:30 to 8:15am. Registration forms are sent home in September and February.
The BOKS mission is to promote the profound impact of physical activity on a child’s mind, body, and community. BOKS will provide an opportunity for children to increase their daily physical activity in an effort to achieve the CDC’s recommended dosage of 60 minutes a day, 5 days a week. BOKS focuses on having fun and non-competitive play.
Extracurriculars
At the Ohrenberger, we offer a wide variety of extra-curricular offerings.
We have athletics opportunities for our middle school students, which are coordinated by Mr. Gavin, our computer teacher and Athletic Director.
Through a partnership with the Ohrenberger Community Center, we offer different weekly of enrichment classes; topics have included computer programming, photography, martial arts, pottery, and more.
Each program sends out their own enrollment forms, often at the beginning of the school year. If you have questions about the different activities we offer, please contact the main office at 617.635.8157 and we can connect you with the right person!
Ohrenberger Community Center
Learn more about activities and classes at the Ohrenberger Community Center and click here for the brochure.