FOREST
HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Saul Gootnick, Principal
67-01 110th Street
Forest Hills, N.Y., 11375
718-268-3137
September 17, 2008
To All Students and Parent/Guardians:
As the 2008-2009 school year begins we would like to wish all of our students a successful and productive year. We would also like to take this opportunity to provide important information about our continuing truancy reduction effort, which begins on September 22nd 2008. The truancy program, known as TRACK in Brooklyn and Staten Island and PACT in Queens and Manhattan, is a cooperative venture among the New York City District Attorneys’ Offices, the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Education and the Police Athletic League. The purpose of the program is to reduce truancy and to keep students safe and in school during regular school hours.
The program consists of specially trained police officers who patrol the streets of New York City and identify students who are not in school during regular school hours. School age youngsters not in school on a regular school day must have a legitimate reason for not being in attendance and must be prepared to show identification upon request from a police officer. It is extremely important that all students carry identification, school program cards or schedules and other appropriate documentation related to their reason for not being in school. Students with a legitimate and documented reason for not being in school will be permitted to continue on their way. All other students will be escorted by police to a borough truancy center. It is important that all students cooperate with police officers.
Upon arrival at a truancy center, students will be interviewed by an attendance teacher or social worker. The goal of this interview is to determine the reason for the student’s absence and to identify any problems that may be affecting the student’s attendance in school. Parents will be notified when their child is brought to a truancy center and will be expected to come to the center to meet with support staff and then to return their child to school. School and/or center staff will follow-up with any appropriate support services.
The truancy program is one component of a broad endeavor to keep children safe and to provide students with the necessary assistance they may require to attend school on a regular basis. This program, together with other support and instructional initiatives, has been developed to assist students in the achievement of maximum school performance. A student’s success in school is, to a great extent, dependent upon the support and involvement of his/her parents. We therefore encourage parents to support their children’s education by becoming actively involved in school activities and events.
We are looking forward to working together in making this a successful and meaningful year for your child/ren.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Saul Gootnick
Principal