Board Of Catholic Education Policies

t. Catherine of Siena School admits students of any sex, race, religion, color, national, and ethnic origin to all rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, employment practices, athletics and other school administrated programs.

St. Catherine of Siena School is a parish school founded to serve the people of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Children entering Kindergarten must be at least five years of age by October 1 of the current year. Children entering the first grade must be at least six years of age by October 1 of the current year.

The following factors will be considered, in priority sequence, for the acceptance of students:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Classes will be limited to a ratio of no less than ten and no more than twenty-five students to one teacher in grades 1 through 8. Kindergarten will be limited to no less than ten and no more than twenty students per session. When numbers are below or exceed the above specifications, the administrator and Board of Total Catholic Education will decide what course to follow.

Eligibility           St. Catherine School is open to all families.  Tuition costs are based on a family’s status as either “active” or “inactive” as define by Parish policy. 

Costs               Families are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee and either partial or full tuition.  Full and partial tuition rates will be determined annually, prior to registration, by the Parish Finance Council, in consultation with the Board of Education, school administrator and pastor. 

Registration      Registration will take place each year in late January or early February.  All parish families with school-aged children will receive a registration form from the parish office.  Families are required to register their children in one of the following programs: the parish school, the parish CCD program, or another Catholic school.  Both the form and the registration fee must be returned to the parish office by the requested date.  No child will be registered in any parish program until the entire fee is paid or arrangements have been made with the Business Manager or pastor. 

Payment           Both full and partial tuition will be divided into ten (10) equal payments beginning in August and ending in May.  Statements/invoices will be mailed out monthly by the parish office.  In the case of families of children in the parish school, statements/invoices may be sent home in the student’s Family Folder.  

All payments are due on the 1^st of the month.  Any payment received after the 10^th of the month will incur an automatic $10 late fee.  If a family falls more than two payments behind, and arrangements have not been made with the school administrator, business manager or pastor, the parents will be notified that their child(ren) may be withdrawn from the school.  No family with unpaid fees or tuition will be permitted to register their child(ren) for an upcoming school year.  

In general, any special needs concerning fees or tuition should be discussed with the school administrator and/or the pastor before they are due.

No official transcript or diploma will be released from St. Catherine of Siena School until all tuition and fee accounts are judged to be current or paid in full by the administrator. Verbal grades may be released to aid in student placement. Prior to official enrollment of a student transferring from another elementary school to St. Catherine of Siena School, the administrator shall verify that tuition and fee accounts are judged current or paid in full by the school of last attendance. Verbal grades may be requested to assist in preliminary scheduling.

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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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.

POLICY NUMBER: 6.0 SUBJECT: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY ELIGIBILITY

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. Extra curricular 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 administrator will reevaluate the student’s progress. 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 extra curricular 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).

* 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.

A student must be in school for the last third of the school day (two-45 minute periods or 12:55-2:40) if she/he wishes to participate in a school sponsored extracurricular activity that same afternoon or evening. This does not pertain to prearranged absences for things such as dental appointments where the child has been in school all morning and then leaves at the end of the day. The administrator may make exceptions for special circumstances where the absence is due to special events such as a funeral or a school related event like Governors Cup state competition. Failure to comply will result in suspension from the next scheduled like event (game, match, performance, etc. not counting practice).

Desks, coat-racks, schoolbooks, lockers, etc. are the property of St. Catherine of Siena School and may be checked by teachers or the administrator. The administrator, based on reasonable suspicion or cause, may search a student’s personal property.

In addressing the concerns of individuals and families in pregnancy situations, the school recognizes its responsibility as a Christian community to provide for those in need. This philosophy does not condone pre-marital sex. The health and welfare of the mother and father and the life of the unborn child shall be of paramount importance.

A pregnant student attending St. Catherine of Siena School shall be allowed to remain in attendance with the following stipulations:

• There shall be a conference involving the Pastor (or Pastoral Administrator), the Principal, a counselor (Catholic Social Services) if needed, parents, and the student or students involved. The purpose of this conference will be to review the terms of this policy as they relate to the student(s)’s continued enrollment.

• The mother-to-be (and father-to-be, if applicable) shall refrain from discussing the pregnancy to a point where she/he are disrupting the educational process in any way. At all times, the well being of the entire school community must be considered.

• The student may be referred for professional evaluation and counseling during the pregnancy at the discretion of the Principal after consultation with the parents.

• A physician’s statement will be required monthly concerning the status of the pregnancy and the student’s physical ability to attend classes or participate in extracurricular activities.

• In the event that the student is unable to remain in the classroom setting during the course of the pregnancy or normal post-partum period, reasonable efforts will be made to provide alternative instruction as determined by the principal.

• After the birth, the student will obtain a medical release from the attending physician prior to returning to class. The child may not be brought to school without prior consent from the principal.

• The Superintendent of Diocesan schools and the President of the Board of Catholic Education shall be notified of the situation. At all times, the confidentiality of the student(s) shall be maintained.

A male student attending St. Catherine who is the father or father-to-be, shall be subject to Items 1, 2, 3, and 7 of this policy.

POLICY NUMBER: 9.0 SUBJECT: KINDERGARTEN PLACEMENT

When determining morning and afternoon placement for students entering Kindergarten, the following guidelines will be used:

1. During the Early Registration period, all parents will be asked to choose one of the following options:

• I would like my child in Morning kindergarten

• I would like my child in Afternoon kindergarten.

• I prefer Morning but will take Afternoon if it is helpful.

• I prefer Afternoon but will take Morning if it is helpful.

• I do not have a preference.

2. In addition to placement options, parents will be asked to disclose any pre-existing medical problems or previously diagnosed learning disabilities that would warrant special needs for placement. Medical problems must be accompanied by a Doctor’s recommendation. These requests are subject to approval by the administrator. No other needs will be taken into consideration.

3. Students with diagnosed needs, described in Item 2, will be placed as requested. All others will be placed as outlined in Item 4.

4.1. If the number of students in sessions are equal or within 1 or 2 using Options A through E above, no further actions will be taken and all requests will be met.

4.2 If the number of students are equal or within 1 or 2 of 50% of the total number registered for kindergarten using Options A and B above, then students in Options C, D, and E will be placed by preference if possible, or randomly if necessary.

4.3. If one session has more than two students above 50% of the total number registered for Kindergarten when using Options A and B above, then all students in Options C, D. and E will be placed in the smaller group. Option A or B requests for the larger group will then be randomly drawn with selections going to the smaller session to get it within 1 or 2 students of the larger group.

4.4. Minimum and maximum caps will be dictated by Board Policy 3.0.

5. Registrations received after the deadline will be placed in available spots so as to maintain proper balance between AM and PM classes with original requests given first consideration if the school year has not begun.

POLICY NUMBER: 10.0 SUBJECT: COMPUTER USAGE

This document establishes the policy for the usage of electronic communication and computer systems at St. Catherine. This includes the regular school day and any "Open Lab" time immediately following school.

Below is a list of unacceptable uses for the computers. Any violation of these uses will result in a student’s loss of computer privileges for a time to be determined by the school administration. Other discipline measures may be included based on the type and severity of the infraction. In the event of vandalism, the student will be responsible for paying to have the damaged hardware or software replaced or repaired. All disciplinary actions will be determined and implemented by the school administration.

1. Inappropriate Content – Students may not create, view, or print any type of inappropriate content including profanity, alcohol or drugs, pornography, etc. This includes using the school computers for email or chat room unless part of a teacher designated project.

2. Tampering with Hardware or Software Students may not tamper with any of the hardware or software programs or files on the network or computers. This includes any tampering with student desktops, network or student files, mice, keyboards, monitors, printers, PC’s etc. Examples include deleting or changing files, adding internet-based programs (AOL Messenger, Games, etc.), changing computer settings, etc.

3. Vandalism Students may not purposefully cause damage to any computer hardware, software, etc. for any reason. If something is accidentally damaged the student is responsible for immediately informing the teacher or computer lab monitor.

ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA SCHOOL

POLICY NUMBER: 11.0 SUBJECT: WELLNESS POLICY

This document establishes the policy for the Wellness as dictated by the Federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. The new law mandates that local wellness policies include:

• Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other School-based activities.

• Nutrition Guidelines for all foods selected by the school.

• A plan for measuring implementation of the local Wellness Policy.

• Designation of a responsible person(s) for ensuring the Wellness Policy Guidelines are met.

• Involvement of parents, students, school administrator, and the public in the development of the policy.

 

Goals – The following goals have been established to promote a healthy lifestyle in and out of school.

• Physical Education classes for all students will contain a nutrition component that educates students on proper diet and exercise.
• Physical education classes for all students will include a daily activity that includes proper stretching and some form of aerobic exercise.
• Science teachers will include and teach all aspects of the food pyramid and nutrition as stated in the Diocesan Curriculum Guidelines.
• All snacks or birthday treats eaten during the school day must be healthy in nature and not contain excessive amounts of fat or sugar.
• The school PTO will include a nutritional food orientation for all parents to encourage good nutrition including a healthy breakfast and examples of healthy snacks.
• The school cafeteria will serve menus that are nutritionally balanced and follow standards recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the new food pyramid).

All food*consumed during the school day must meet the nutrition standards recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the new food pyramid). This information will be printed on the school menus for parents and students.

· Exceptions to this are the classroom parties for Holidays such as Halloween and Christmas.

The responsibility of ensuring the wellness policy guidelines are followed is the responsibility of the school administrator and the school cafeteria manager.

All stakeholders in the school environment have been included in the creation of this policy and will help in promoting and following the guidelines. Junior High Student Council and the School PTO will provide educational opportunities for students and parents on proper nutrition and fitness.

Service is considered an essential part of the development of students in the faith. Because of this, students in grades 5-8 are required to serve a specific amount of hours each year as part of sacramental preparation for Confirmation. Below is a description of the types of hours needed and the number of hours for each grade. Students who do not meet the required number of hours in grades 5, 6 and 7 will see them carried over into the following year. Eighth grade students who have not completed all of his/her 90 hours over the four-year period will be required to meet with the Pastor to determine if he/she will be Confirmed.

Service is a responsibility of faith in action that comes from our Christian identity. Since we are members of different communities, service hours can be done within social organizations, parishes, schools and at home. Service in which compensation is given such as getting paid to cut grass or baby sit cannot be counted. Below are some basic guidelines along with the three areas of service, grade level requirements and reporting procedures.

Home: While much of what children do at home is expected, there are opportunities for them to go "above and beyond" the normal duties of a family member. Service hours at home should be given when the student shares their time and talent with the immediate or extended family as they grow and begin to see his/her responsibilities as a young adult.

Community: All hours from an official community or social service organization will be counted as fulfilling the service requirement. A suggested list of such organizations along with contact information and descriptions of service can be found at http://www.stcatherineofsiena.org/service/servicehome.htm

School/Parish: Service to the school or parish is that service which goes beyond our regular responsibilities as a student or parishioner. As such, participation in Liturgy as server, or choir member does not count for service hours (Weddings and Funerals outside of the regular school day do count). Parish activities including the Festival, VBS, etc. will count for service hours. Activities at local high schools also fit into this category.

In recognition of the physical, mental, and spiritual growth that occurs over this time, the percentage of hours done each year will progress accordingly. The type and number of hours required for each grade level is listed below.