St. Catherine of Siena School Handbook
BACKGROUND
St. Catherine of
Siena School is a Catholic elementary school in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
The School is part of the Diocese of Covington School System and is under
the direction of the Diocesan Superintendent of Schools, the Pastor, the
Principal, and St. Catherine's Board of Catholic Education.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of St. Catherine School is to provide quality Catholic
education by helping each student to reach their full potential spiritually,
physically, and academically, according to the Catholic faith.
PHILOSOPHY
St.
Catherine of Siena School shares, with the family, the educational mission of
the Church and strives to bring each child to an awareness of the uniqueness and
value of self and others. As a
Christian community, the school is organized to foster the total development of
its members in accordance with the gospel message.
2) To assist
students in learning to make reflective application of Christian values to
3) To develop
a deepening sense of peace and justice towards self, neighbor and the world.
4)
To promote a total educational program of the highest caliber which
fosters the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, emotional and physical
growth of the school community.
ADMISSION POLICY
The following factors will be considered, in priority sequence, for the acceptance of students:
1.) Children currently enrolled in the school are guaranteed placement in any grade if they register by the Early Registration Deadline in February. Placement after the February deadline will only be made if room is available and agreed upon by the Principal and the Pastor.
2.) Parishioners with students entering Kindergarten or First Grade are guaranteed placement if they register by the early registration deadline in February. Placement after the February deadline will only be made if room is available and agreed upon by the Principal and the Pastor.
3.) Parishioners with students wishing to transfer into St. Catherine at any time may be accepted after a conference with the Principal and the Pastor to determine if enrollment is in the best interest of the child and the school community.
4.) Non-parishioners with students wishing to transfer into St. Catherine at any time may be accepted if room is available and after a conference with the Principal and the Pastor to determine if enrollment is in the best interest of the child and the school community.
St.
Catherine of Siena School does not charge tuition for members of the parish.
The operational budget for the school is provided from the general
revenue of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. All parish families are asked to make
a pledge in support of the parish. The current cost of educating a child at St.
Catherine is approximately $4400.00.
School fees of
$550 per child*
(grades 1-8) or $275 (kindergarten) must be paid as follows. The first payment
of $150 per child is to be paid with registration in February. The second
payment of $200 per child (grades 1-8) or $100 (for Kindergarten) is due on or
before the first day of the new school year. For grades 1-8, the remaining $200
is due by November 1. If fees are
not paid, letters will be sent home and names forwarded to the Pastor for his
review. Any special needs
concerning fees should be discussed with the school administrator and/or pastor
before the fees are due.
* Students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, as validated by the state Free Lunch Program, will pay the following fees:
* Students on Free Lunch $165 $50 for registration $50 due first day of school $65 by Nov.1
* Students on Reduced lunch $247.50 $82.50 for registration $82.50 due first day school $82.50 by Nov. 1
In addition to school fees, tuition is charged to all non-parishioners who choose to send their children to St. Catherine of Siena School. Tuition per child per year is $1815 for Kindergarten and $3630 for grades 1-8 to be paid by the following dates:
Kindergarten: $1815 due as follows:
$455.00 September 1st
$455.00 November 1st
$455.00 January 1st
$450.00 March 1st
Grades 1-8 $3630 due as follows:
$910.00 September 1st
$910.00 November 1st
$910.00 January 1st
$910.00 March 1st
Tuition
payments are due following the above schedule. If for any reason payment cannot
be made on time, parents must notify the school office. If payments are not made
on time, a delinquency letter will be sent to the parents. If a family falls
more than one payment behind, and other arrangements have not been made, the
parents will be notified that their child shall be withdrawn immediately.
Each family pays a fee to the Cafeteria fund, at the beginning of school, to assure that enough help is available for serving lunches. Families are then asked to work in the cafeteria throughout the year.
The
office needs, in writing, any existing information regarding custody and
visitation rights for your children. Unless
we have documentation to the contrary, the school will deal only with the
custodial parent. Kentucky law
provides that "the custodial parent may determine the child's upbringing
including his/her education." Legal
counsel has advised that the non-custodial parent may have access to the child's
records under one or more of the following conditions:
1. Access is granted
by divorce decree.
2.
The custodial parent has given permission for limited or total access to
the child's records.
3.
A court order has been issued granting access of the child's records to
the
Documentation granting or refusing access to the student's
records will be kept in the student's file.
A
continuing objective of St. Catherine of Siena School is to meet the needs of
the individual students and to provide a learning environment that is
challenging, stimulating and in accordance with Diocesan Curriculum Guidelines
and the Kentucky State Program of Studies.
Students are instructed in a variety of ways to meet the needs of the
various learning styles present. Direct
instruction in Religion, Language Arts and Math are the predominate mode still
allowing group and individualized instruction as feasible.
The concept/inquiry approach is used in Social Studies and Science,
placing emphasis on hands on learning. Teachers
and volunteers provide music and art programs.
Opportunities to experience Fine Arts Programs are provided throughout
the year. Computer skills are
taught to all students with an emphasis on applying technology to increase
interest and expand learning. Physical
and health education are an integral part of the total education process,
helping each child become a healthy, happy and productive individual.
The
parent holds the right and the responsibility for the spiritual development of
his/her child. The uniqueness of a Catholic school lies in its explicit
effort to complement and reinforce this role of the parent. Christian values become a vital part of the total curriculum.
Students attend Mass weekly at an all-school liturgy. Parents are always invited and encouraged to participate in
these liturgies. Sacramental
preparation is highlighted in the second and eighth grades with Reconciliation,
Eucharist and Confirmation programs for students and parents. The students in
grades two through eight are given the opportunity to receive the sacrament of
Reconciliation twice (Fall and late Spring) throughout the year. Religion classes are taught regularly along with
opportunities for private and group prayer, and service activities.
Open
lines of communication are an important means of strengthening bonds between
school and home. A school bulletin is sent home each Friday explaining important
information and events for the following week(s). The family folder is emailed
or sent home
with the youngest student in the family and should be returned to school on
Monday.
If
a problem arises or you need clarification about a classroom issue, parents are
asked to first speak directly with the teacher concerned.
Parents are asked to call the school office (572-2680 or 572-2681) or
send a note or email requesting the teacher to contact them to discuss the
situation. Spontaneous and
unannounced visits cannot always be accommodated. Parents who wish to speak to
the Principal are also asked to call for an appointment.
Respect
for human dignity is a hallmark of Christian behavior and is expected from every
person, whether child or adult. Students
are to consider it a matter of personal honor to show courtesy and
thoughtfulness at all times to the faculty, staff, volunteers, and maintenance
personnel, all guests and to each other. This
courteous interchange must also be evidenced by the respect with which the
students are treated.
A
school is an institution where learning is foremost.
To promote this goal, there must be a proper atmosphere in which to
learn. Students are to respect the
rights of everyone in the school. They
must accept each other's individuality so that each is free to achieve his/her
potential. These standards extend to all phases of school activity. The
following is a list of appropriate behaviors and expectations:
In
Church - The students should
recognize that church is the Temple of God and act reverently.
They must try to realize the spiritual gifts to be granted from listening
to God's Word, partaking of the Eucharist, and singing God's Praises.
In
the Classroom - The student is
expected to contribute to the proper learning atmosphere by following the
classroom rules and by:
1. Being an attentive listener.
2. Participating in discussions and sharing ideas.
3. Developing good study habits.
4. Cooperating and becoming actively involved in group projects.
5. Completing assignments.
6. Refraining from disrupting the educational process in any way.
7. Refraining from treating any other person in a way which diminishes
that person's dignity
8. Complying with the teacher's directions in a respectful manner.
9. Working with a positive attitude.
Within
School Property - The student is
expected to use learning materials properly and help keep materials in good
condition. Hard-back textbooks must
be covered at all times. Students must reimburse the school for lost or damaged
textbooks or property. Students are expected to respect both the school property
and neighboring property. Chewing
gum is not permitted on the premises of St. Catherine of Siena School during the
school day.
On
the Playground - The student will
use the time on the playground for relaxation and enjoyment and allow others to
do the same. The students will keep
in mind the following:
Respecting proper authority is required at all times.
Rough
playing which tends to cause personal injury or damage to personal property/clothing
is not permitted.
Throwing snowballs
is never allowed.
Placing paper and
trash in proper containers is expected.
Remaining on the playground and not re-entering the building is required
unless a
student obtains a teacher's permission.
Playing fairly and being good "sports" is expected.
Asking a teacher
before retrieving balls from the street or over the fence is the rule.
Responding to the bell that signals the end of play is required. Students are to stop playing, to walk to the designated line-up area, and to take their places quietly.
All
students must be in the regular school uniform.
The uniform code is as follows:
Boys
Navy blue, uniform style dress pants. Must be dark blue (fade resistant), with plain pockets, no logos, etc. Do not buy Old Navy, Dockers, etc. style brands. These are not acceptable.
Students in grades 3-8 must
wear a belt.
White or light blue collared shirts - oxford, permanent press, knit or plain white
Dark Blue or White Turtleneck shirts may be worn under uniform shirts or sweatshirts.
No emblems or
All T-shirts worn under school shirts must be plain white.
Solid hunter
green or navy blue cardigan or pullover sweaters. No emblems or
embroideries of any type are permitted.
Navy, brown, or black belts. Belts
must be enclosed in the belt loops and may not dangle in front of the pants.
Navy, hunter green or white socks. Socks must be seen above the shoe from all angles without pulling them up and may not have any emblems or contrasting colors.
Only School uniform sweatshirts (Blue, Green or Grey) may be worn during
the school day (this includes church). No hooded sweatshirts or other
outerwear may be worn during the school..
Shoes - Sturdy dress or casual shoes including gym shoes may be worn. No open toe or open back shoes may be worn.
Navy Blue Uniform shorts may be worn during the 1st and 4th quarter. The principal will announce any exception to this time period. Shorts may not be shorter than 3 inches above the knee.
Boys are not to have any part of their body pierced. All hair should be of natural color, off of the face, and well kept. No coloring is acceptable.
Girls
Uniform jumpers purchased from school-selected company or from uniform exchange.
White or light blue uniform blouses -round or pointed collars, permanent press.
Dark Blue or White Turtleneck shirts may be worn under uniform shirts or sweatshirts.
No emblems or embroideries of any type are permitted on school shirts or T-shirts worn under school shirts.
Solid hunter green or navy blue cardigan or pullover
sweaters
No emblems or embroideries of any type are permitted.
Navy, brown, or black belts – Belts must be enclosed in the belt loops and may not dangle in front of the pants.
Navy, hunter green or white socks - Socks must be seen above the shoe
from all angles without pulling them up and may not have any emblems or contrasting colors.
Girls may also wear navy or
white tights with the jumper.
Only
School uniform sweatshirts (Blue, Green or Grey) may be worn during the
school day (this includes church). No hooded sweatshirts or other
outerwear may be worn during the school..
Shoes - Sturdy dress or casual shoes including gym shoes may be worn. No open toe or open back shoes may be worn.
Navy Blue Uniform shorts or skorts (navy blue or uniform plaid) may be worn during the 1st and 4th quarter. The principal will announce any exception to this time period. Shorts and skorts cannot be shorter than 3 inches above the knee.
During cold weather, girls may wear blue leggings or solid color sweat pants. The leggings must be navy blue with no lace on the bottom and should reach the ankles. The sweats can be solid blue, black, green, white or gray and worn under their skirts or jumpers to and from school or during recess. Sweats may not be worn during school or to Liturgies. No "pajama" type bottoms are allowed at any time.
Jewelry, makeup, and other
accessories should be kept to a minimum so as to not cause a distraction. Girls
may only have their ears pierced, no other body piercings are acceptable.
Hair color should be natural, no coloring is acceptable. The
principal will make decisions regarding fads, trends, or other attire that may
pose a distraction to the learning environment or a health or safety risk to the
students.
On out of uniform days students should wear clothes that are appropriate for a Catholic school. No open toed shoes, "short" shorts, spaghetti straps, tank tops or any clothing with inappropriate logos or writing may be worn.
During Cold Weather we will still have outdoor recess unless the temperature goes below 20 degrees. Students are expected to bring appropriate coats, hats, gloves, etc. to school and wear them as they go to lunch. No one will be allowed back in the building to get forgotten items due to supervision issues.
Physical Education Uniforms - A change of clothes is required for gym class. Gym shorts or sweatpants and a tee shirt with sleeves are acceptable. Students are not permitted to wear tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or "short" shorts. Please keep in mind that the students will be bending and exercising in these clothes, so they should fit comfortably and cover well. Students should not wear jewelry during gym class. Earrings, necklaces etc. should be left at home or in the classroom. Deodorant may be brought to gym class to reapply after class. Gym shoes must be worn during class.
Kindergarten- The kindergarten students wear navy blue gym shorts or sweatpants and a plain white shirt with sleeves. They may wear it to school in the morning so they do not have to change clothes. They should wear gym shoes and no jewelry on gym days.
Bookbags
- Due to safety concerns, students may not have the "rolling bookbags"
They are tough on the steps and are a hazard for students walking in a line.
Bookbags should be carried on the shoulders.
Classes
begin at 7:55 a.m. for all students. Children
may not be dropped off at school earlier than 7:30 and should not be left
unattended. There is no supervision for any children before 7:30.
Children may enter by the parish center or front doors before 7:50. Students arriving
between 7:50 and 7:55 must use the front doors of the school.
All children must be in their homerooms by 7:55 or will be counted as
tardy. Late arrivals are to
report to the school office for a tardy slip before going to the classroom.
If a child is tardy to school
three times, parents will be contacted for explanation as to the reasons for the
tardiness. Further tardies will result in the child being required to stay after
school to “recover” this time ( students may be kept out of recess).
Continued tardiness may also result in truancy charges being filed.
Dismissal
is at 2:40 p.m. The school is not responsible for students who play on the
school property when school is not in session.
Parents
should see that their children's attendance at school has priority over all
other activities. Regular
attendance is vital to successful progress. If a child is absent from class for
illness or another legitimate reason, the parent must notify the school
by calling the office before 8:30 a.m.
Books and assignments for children absent from school should be requested
early in the day and picked up after school or given to an assigned student.
Kentucky attendance laws require that children who are absent from school
present to their homeroom teacher on the day they return to regular classes, a
note, signed by the parent or guardian, which states the date and reason for their
absence. Students are only allowed
3 unexcused and/or 10 excused absences per year without direct consultation with
the principal. If a student's absences exceed these numbers parents will be
contacted and truancy charges may be filed. Any further absences must be
accompanied by a doctor's excuse unless otherwise noted by the administration. The primary purpose for this policy
is to see that the student, through regular attendance, is successful in school.
If
students need to leave class early, they should present to the teacher, during
homeroom, a note signed by the parent or guardian that verifies the reason.
Parents who need to pick up children for appointments, illness or any
other reason must come to the school office and sign their child out. Students
will always be dismissed from the school office. Please try to schedule all
appointments for after school when possible. The best interests of the child are
served by regular attendance in class. If
a special event necessitates taking a child out of school for a day or more, the
parent or guardian must send separate notes to the principal and the teacher
giving the reason and dates for the absence.
The principal will determine if the absence will be excused. Teachers are
not required to prepare lessons and assignments ahead of time for prearranged
absences, so it is important for your child to ask a classmate to keep track of
homework and classroom notes and lessons. When
your child returns to school, he/she must make arrangements with the teacher for
completing all missing work within three days of returning.
If the work is not completed, a grade of zero may be given.
In all cases, the parent assumes responsibility for assisting the child
in keeping up to date on material covered during the absence so that the child,
the teacher, and the class are not prevented from moving ahead upon return.
Weather
Delay - If
for any reason classes must be canceled or delayed due to bad weather,
announcements will be made using the local television Channel 12. In addition, an email will be sent to all parents on the electronic
list, the Parent Home Page on the school website will include the announcement
and a telephone hotline will be available. The hotline number should only be
called after you have checked the TV, email and website. The hotline number is
859-392-0299.
Students
either walk to school or rely upon private transportation. To insure the safety
of all students, the following directions are to be followed.
1.
Enter driveway on Rossford Avenue nearest the church. Do not enter
through the exit area of the
parking lots.
2. Proceed straight toward the bottom parking lot.
Please pull up as far as possible before stopping to let students out in order to avoid traffic tie-ups on
Rossford Avenue.
PICK UP:
1. For after-school pick up, drive in the proper entrance and park in the parking rows, either in front of the building, for grades K-5, or down in the lower level, for grades 6, 7, and 8 while waiting for students to be dismissed. DO NOT ENTER THROUGH THE EXIT AREA OF THE PARKING LOTS. Please do not block the driveway or park in the fire zone directly in front of the building. Be cautious and watch for children walking around or in front of cars.
2.
All students will be dismissed at 2:40. When all students have gotten
into the cars you will be directed to exit the parking lot using the far
right exit or the exit behind the church on North Fort Thomas Avenue.
3.
Parents, volunteers, and other visitors are not to park in such a way as
to interfere with playground movement. Please do not park in the handicapped
area next to the classrooms in the lower parking lot.
Children's
safety is our number one concern with these directives.
Walkers:
1.
Students who walk to school must observe proper crosswalk areas, and
follow traffic rules.
2.
Students should be respectful and attentive to the traffic patrols and
student patrols.
3.
Bike riders must "walk" their bikes on the playground during
school hours and immediately before and after school when cars are present.
4.
All bicycles must be parked and locked in the bike racks during school
hours. Mini-bikes, scooters, and
skateboards are strictly forbidden on St. Catherine's property at all times.
During
the school day, all exterior doors, except for the front entry, will be kept
locked. All visitors must report to the main office. All visitors must sign-in
and receive a volunteer type badge. No one, for any reason, may enter the
building by the Parish Center doors during the school day. Students should never
open the Parish Center doors for anyone during the school day. Volunteers or
visitors will only be allowed in the school if the teacher is aware that they
are coming and they have checked in and received a badge. If you wish to speak
to a teacher during the school day, please call and make an appointment (see
Communication). This includes before and after school and during lunch. No
parent should enter the building or cafeteria to talk with a teacher without
first checking into the school office.
Homework
is given as a help to students and an extension of the classroom.
Assignments involve out of class experiences. They are geared to the needs, interests, and abilities of the
students.
In
addition to their value of helping students explore or reinforce material
presented in class, another value of home assignments is to help students
develop good study habits. Homework teaches self-discipline: students must learn
to budget time and exert themselves, realistically, to meet deadlines. Under the
heading of home assignments, students are expected to do research and to
write and/or rework papers. Homework, however, is not always written. Students
are frequently expected to review notes taken in class, work on projects, read
books, watch a specially assigned TV program, memorize needed facts, or study
for a test. Parents would do well
to show interest in these broader aspects of home assignments and to support the
student's accomplishments as faithfully as they usually check on the more
traditional written homework. It is recommended that students have a set time
and place to do homework in order to set up a daily routine. Parents are
encouraged to check and sign homework assignment books daily. The amount of
homework varies according to grade level, the nature of the assignments, and the
ability of the student. Every
attempt is made to see that the amount of time spent is reasonable.
Please consult with the teacher if you observe, over an extended period
of time, that your child is spending an excessive amount of time on homework or
if your child claims he/she has none.
Report
cards will be sent home approximately every ten weeks or four times a year.
Progress reports are sent at mid-quarter for students in grades one
through eight. Parents are asked to
sign the reports and return them to school. Scheduled conferences between
parents and teachers will be held during one or more grading periods.
Other conferences for clarification, questions, and discussion may always
be scheduled. At the end of the second grading period, letters will be sent
home to parents whose child is having academic difficulty. These letters will be
followed by a conference with the teacher and the principal to develop a plan to
help the child. By identifying problems early in the year, we hope to avoid
future problems and retentions. In all aspects of grading, we encourage good
communication between the principal, parents, teachers and students.
All
grades except Kindergarten use the letter grading system (A, B, C.). The
kindergarten report card is different because it measures social skills and
appropriate readiness skills for the kindergarten students.
We encourage parents, teachers and students to communicate well to make
sure the grading system is clearly understood.
Standardized
tests are administered in the spring. This testing originates both from Diocesan
and state offices. Parents will be
informed of the reasoning behind the testing and an explanation of results when
they come in. Teacher designed tests and other forms of assessment will be
administered throughout the school year to track student progress.
It is the philosophy of St. Catherine of Siena School to look at all aspects of a child's education and then make a decision on what is best for the child in regards to retention or promotion. In grades K-4 conferences will be held for students having academic difficulty. These conferences will include the teacher, parents, administrator and resource teacher if involved. The purpose of the conference will be to consider all factors and then decide whether to promote or retain the child. Conferences will be held during the 3rd quarter and again at the end of the year. The final decision will rest with the administrator.
Students in grades 5-8 must successfully pass Religion and three of the four core subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts) to be promoted to the next grade level. Other factors such as age, behavior, special needs, etc. will be considered in the evaluation process. Notices will be sent during the 3rd quarter by the administrator, for any child who is in danger of being retained. All efforts will be made to see that the child is successful. The administrator will discuss the possible retention of a child with the teacher and parent, with the final decision being made by the administrator. Students in grades 5-8 who have failed one of the core subjects will be required to pass a summer school program approved by the administrator in order to be promoted.
Ceremonies
marking the successful completion of the work required of eighth graders at St.
Catherine of Siena School will take place at the end of the school year.
There will be a simple religious ceremony and a reception.
The student must successfully complete the course of studies in order to
participate in the promotion ceremonies.
A
part-time librarian operates the school library.
Every class is scheduled to use the library each week. Books are checked
out during the library period and are to be returned the following week.
Books may be renewed once. If
a book is lost or damaged, the child is responsible for its replacement.
If a student has a book overdue, no other books may be checked out until
that book is returned. If you have a problem with a book and its content or
would like to suggest book titles, please feel free to contact the principal or
the librarian.
St.
Catherine of Siena School has a hot lunch program subsidized by the government.
Government and diocesan regulations are followed.
Students may choose to purchase the hot lunch or bring their lunch from
home. The cost of hot lunch is
determined at the beginning of each school year.
Milk and a la carte items can also be purchased.
The students are not permitted to bring soft drinks in cans or bottles to
school. Lunches brought to the
school after 8 a.m. should be labeled with the child's name and taken to the
cafeteria. Absolutely no fast
food is to be brought to students at any time during the day.
Cafeteria
Regulations - In order that the
lunch period can contribute to the children's socialization, all students
should:
Behave properly at the table and use acceptable table manners.
Dispose of waste paper, food scraps, etc. in the proper containers,
leaving the eating space clean for others.
Eat food only in the cafeteria.
Speak in a conversational tone of voice.
Treat each other and all supervising adults with courtesy and respect.
St.
Catherine Cafeteria Workers -
Each family is expected to help in the cafeteria one day a month (9 times a
year). A stipulated amount that all families pay to the Cafeteria fund assures
that enough help is available for serving.
The School PTO oversees cafeteria scheduling and bookkeeping for this
project.
The
Board of Catholic Education is a discerned group of the parish that works with
the Pastor and the Principal, in formulating policies for the educational
programs of the parish. St. Catherine's Board represents all areas of education:
early childhood, parish school, out-of-school religion programs, and adult
education. The Board of Catholic Education meetings are usually the 1st Tuesday
of the month in the School library. The meetings are open to parishioners.
ST.
CATHERINE SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)
The
School PTO is a vital link of communication between the home and the school.
Parents are urged to join and take an active part in this important group
in the school community. Meetings
are usually the fourth Tuesday of the month.
The School PTO encourages fund raising and provides special programs and
needs for the school and cafeteria. The School Forum, conducted at the close of
the business meeting, is the place where important issues are presented, by the
principal, in an open discussion type format. The PTO also does many things for
the school and staff including assigning Room Parents and Secret Angels and
having Staff Appreciation lunches, dinners, and other events throughout the
school year.
The
St. Catherine Boosters encourages, promotes and finances sporting activities,
and playground equipment for St. Catherine School.
Their intent is to provide an opportunity for as many students as
possible to develop good moral character, while maturing physically through the
participation in organized sports. Parents
are welcomed and encouraged to become active in the St. Catherine Boosters.
Meetings are usually the second Thursday of each month in the Undercroft.
EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
St. Catherine School offers a variety of extracurricular activities to its students. The Booster Association sponsors the following sports teams for the students; Spring and Fall Soccer Leagues, Volleyball, Basketball and Cheerleading. In addition to these programs, many other activities are available including a school play, academic competitions (Governor's Cup, Quick Recall), Youth Choir, and a Chess Club.
The
teacher, in consultation with the principal, will arrange field trips that
relate to specific units of study or provide enrichment for the students.
Parents or guardians must sign and return the permission slip from the
school before any student is allowed to leave the school premises. Students
generally wear school uniforms unless the nature of the field trip calls for
another type of dress. Usually
there is an extra fee charged to cover transportation and entrance fees.
Field
trips are privileges afforded to students; no student has an absolute right to a
field trip. The student is still responsible for coming to school if not
privileged to attend the field trip. The parent will be informed of his/her
child's loss of the field trip privilege and the reason for such action.
Education is not limited to classroom experiences; it is derived from all opportunities that contribute in any way towards personal and social growth. It is a privilege to participate in extracurricular activities. With every privilege, there is corresponding responsibility. At any time, a student may be declared ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities at the discretion of the administrator. Extracurricular eligibility with regard to academic progress will be determined at each of the established grading periods (progress reports and report cards).
To be eligible to
participate in extracurricular activities sponsored by St. Catherine of Siena
School, students in grades 4-8*;
Must have no "F's" in the core subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts) and Religion.
Must meet the standards of conduct as set by the administrator, and have no serious behavior infractions.
Suspension of the right to participate will be for a minimum of two weeks and must include all practices, games or activities during this period. The administrator will give notification to the parents and coaches/supervisors at the time that the student is suspended. After two weeks, the student must present proof of satisfactory progress to the administrator. If satisfactory progress has been made, the suspension will be lifted. Otherwise, the suspension will continue until satisfactory progress has been made. Upon returning to extracurricular activities, the student must continue to pass. If a student is failing a second time, the student will no longer be eligible for extracurricular activities until satisfactory progress has been shown on two successive grading periods (as determined by progress reports and report cards).
If
a student has been absent from school, or left early due to illness, she/he
cannot participate in extracurricular activities on that day. The administrator
may make exceptions for special circumstances.
*In
grades 1-3, if a student is failing, a conference will be used to determine if
suspension is in the best interest of the child. The conference will include the
parent, teacher and school administrator. If a suspension is justified,
suspension dates will begin at the date of the conference and last for the
required two weeks.
Student
birthday treats may be brought to school with prior approval from the teacher.
These should be healthy (meeting the new wellness policy) and can only be
distributed to your immediate class. Invitations to parties,
which are held outside of school, may only be distributed at school if the
entire group is invited; for example, all boys, or all girls, or the entire
class. These may only be
distributed outside of class time and with the permission of the teacher.
The
school telephone is for business only. Neither
students nor teachers may be called to the phone during the school hours unless
there is an emergency. Students may
not use the phone for unnecessary phone calls.
Calling home for homework, gym clothes, permission to visit another
student after school, etc. is not permitted.
Emergency situations will always be addressed. No student may use the
phone in the Parish Center for any reason during the school day and only after
school with permission from a teacher or sponsor.
CELL PHONES
Students are not permitted to carry cell phones during the school day. We realize some students rely on this form of contact for after school events. If that is the case, the cell phone should be turned off at all times and kept in his/her backpack during school hours.
Lost
clothing and articles are a continual problem.
Students' names should be on everything they bring to school.
A "Lost and Found" basket is kept at school and emptied
periodically with the items going to charity.
The students are discouraged from bringing unnecessary and/or valuable
articles to school. Electronic devices such as I-pods,
Blackberries, CD players, radios, games, laser pointers,
and skateboards may not be brought to school.
The school cannot be responsible for lost or broken articles. Items will
be confiscated and sent to the principal's office.
Every
year the school coordinates vision, hearing and scoliosis screening for the
students. Other health related
screenings might be conducted. An emergency file is kept on each child for the
sole purpose of enabling the school to reach someone in the event of illness.
Parents are responsible for supplying information on this sheet and keeping
the information up to date. Hospitals
will not treat children without parental permission, and it is important for
school personnel to be able to reach the parent or guardian in case of
emergency.
In
accordance with state regulations, aspirins, Tylenol, cough drops, or any other
non-prescription medication will not be dispensed to any student without written
permission from parents. Students may not bring non-prescription medications of
any kind to school. If a child
needs to take a non-prescription medication, the parent or guardian must bring
the medicine to the office with a note dictating time and dosage to be given to
the child. This will allow the office personnel to give the child the medicine
as needed.
If
a student is required to take prescription
medication, the above information and the medication, in the original
bottle, must be given to the school secretary.
Students must report to the office at the appropriate times to take their
medication. It is the responsibility of the student to come to the office for
prescription medication.
No
student may give medication of any kind, prescription or non-prescription, to
any other student for any reason.
Tornado
drills are practiced periodically. In
the event of a tornado watch, the weather will be monitored.
In the event of a tornado warning, students will leave their classes and
go to the designated places remaining there until the warning is lifted.
Fire
drills are conducted as required by state regulations.
Annual inspections by local and state officials insure that our
procedures and buildings meet state and local fire codes.
Each teacher explains the procedures for fire drills at the beginning of
the school year. For the safety of
all, the students must proceed in an orderly and quiet manner when evacuating
the building during a fire drill.
Statements
in the handbook are subject to amendment with or without notice.
The school will attempt to keep you informed of all changes as soon as is
practical; however, some changes might be necessary immediately due to
unforeseen circumstances.