Parent/Student
Handbook
2006-2007
401-941-8954
Visit
our website at http://www.stmatthew.us
“Let the children come to Me.”
Continuing the Tradition of Excellence in
Catholic Educational Ministry
Philosophy
Statement
The philosophy of
We believe in an integrated approach to education. Our program provides each student with opportunities for Christian collaboration, academic achievement, critical thinking, artistic appreciation and social awareness. This enables our students to develop a sense of their unique giftedness, moral responsibility and self-worth as cherished members of God’s family.
Building on our Catholic heritage, our vision is the
creation of an affirming and challenging educational environment. All members
of our culturally diverse population are welcomed, nurtured and valued as
images of God. In this way, we seek to prepare our students to build the
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As a Christian academic community serving a diverse
population, we endeavor to build the
- Fostering a reverence for the gift of all life;
- Respecting and affirming the unique giftedness of each child;
- Demonstrating a spirit of Christian collaboration;
- Empowering the children to develop moral values, self-discipline and responsibility;
- Creating an environment in the hopes of instilling a life-long appreciation of learning and critical thinking;
- Providing opportunities for social awareness.
I. Admission/Registration Policies
Students are admitted to
It may be necessary to deny admission to prospective student
because of limited space in the requested grade. In such cases, preference for
admission would be given to children whose siblings are already attending
Upon acceptance, parents agree to support the school personnel in the Catholic education of their child, by providing through word and example the means by which to maintain academic excellence in a safe, healthy, productive community. (N.B.: Parents are held to the same standard as students regarding respect for teachers. Enrollment of the child in the school implies a partnership between the school and the parents/child. If the partnership breaks down, parents can be required to withdraw the child from the school.)
A. Admission
- Pre-Kindergarten: Child must be four years old by September 1 of the current year.
- Kindergarten: Child must be five years old by September 1 of the current year.
The Early Prevention of School
Failure screening is administered by appointment beginning in May
to all Kindergarten candidates for the fall.
3. The following documents are required of all new students prior to admission:
· Official Birth and Sacramental Certificates;
· Current immunization and medical records;
· Signed release form to obtain records from the last school attended;
· Records from the last school attended (report card, standardized test scores and health record, Individual Educational Plans and Special Education files if applicable);
· Teacher recommendation, Grs. 1-8;
· Signed completed registration form, probationary statement, two copies of the tuition contract and payment of non-refundable $50.00 registration fee;
· Proof of legal guardianship, if applicable.
At the time of the
placement testing, parents must bring a copy of the child’s most recent report
card for consideration. Parents must sign a statement indicating that all
applicable records and forms are being provided. (N.B.: Failure to provide full and accurate disclosure within thirty
(30) days of the start of the child’s enrollment could result in the
termination of that enrollment.)
B. Registration
Registration for new students is possible anytime during the year. The initial registration period for the fall takes place during Catholic Schools Week. Registration dates are announced annually in the parish bulletin, as well as through special notices in surrounding parishes and advertisements in The Providence Visitor and local newspapers. Opportunities are provided for interested families to visit the school and receive a guided tour. When classes are filled according to diocesan regulations, registrants’ names are placed on a waiting list, to be called as vacancies occur according to the above priorities.
C. Re-Registration
Re-registration for those students already attending
Students are not considered officially re-registered until:
- Tuition payments are current;
- Fundraising quotas are current;
- The new tuition contract (2 copies) has been signed and returned;
- The re-registration fee has been paid.
D. Finances
Notification of all tuition and related school fees is provided by the Business Office once the fees for the upcoming year are established by the administration. After this, families new to the school receive this information at the time of registration. Three payment options are available.
Tuition payments should be mailed to the school or sent with
the child in a clearly labeled sealed envelope to be handed to the homeroom
teacher. Payments may also be made in person at the Business Office between the hours of
Limited financial aid is available from the Diocese of Providence through the Frances Warde Fund. Financial aid applications must be requested in person from the Business Office and returned directly to the processing firm beginning in February. Strict guidelines apply.
N.B.: Second Trimester and Final Examinations will be administered only
to those students whose parents or guardians have fulfilled all financial
obligations to date, including fundraising and parish budget contributions.
II. Attendance
According to state law, the school year is a full 180 days
for all students in the State of
A. School Day
Regular school hours are from
B. Absences
If a child is absent from school, the parent is to notify
the school Business Office (941-8954) before
In addition, state law requires that a written note, dated and signed by the
parent or guardian, giving the child’s name and the reason for the absence, be
sent to the teacher on the day the child returns to school. This
regulation applies in cases of tardiness, as well.
N.B.: It is the student’s responsibility to secure and complete all
work missed during an absence. Missing work due to an absence will result in
the lowering of a grade.
In addition, students who are absent from school may
not take part in any activities or attend any school functions on the
day or evening an absence occurs. This includes all evening activities related
to graduation.
C. Tardiness
All students are expected to be in their classrooms when the
bell rings at
Any student arriving after
After five (5) late arrivals, the driver and student will need to speak
to the principal before the child is admitted to class.
D. Excessive
Absence/Tardiness
Cases of excessive absence and/or tardiness will be handled by the administration on an individual basis. Truancy from school is considered a very serious matter. Parents will be contacted in cases of excessive absences and tardiness. Such cases may be turned over to local authorities to investigate, at the discretion of the principal.
E. Early Dismissal
Except for unexpected emergencies, a note must be sent to the classroom teacher prior to the early dismissal, which must in turn be approved by the principal. Every effort should be made to schedule all medical and dental appointments, etc. after school.
F. Dismissal
Procedures
Dismissal is signified by a series of bells. In the summer mailing, parents are asked to fill out an Afternoon Transportation sheet, informing the teacher and the office of the typical manner in which the child/ren are to go home at the end of a typical day. This helps to ensure that the children are sent at the right time to the proper location to be dismissed.
Parents picking up children in the Pre-Kindergarten should
be present outside Door #4 by
N.B.: The Business Office must be notified by note or phone before
G.
In cases of inclement weather,
Should a weather emergency occur after school is already in session, parents and guardians are advised to listen to radio station Lite 105 or watch NBC Ch. 10 for information. Please do not call the school. Our phone lines must be kept open for emergencies and for contacting the transportation offices.
Clear instructions should be written on the emergency cards to indicate what a child is to do and where to go in case of such an emergency. These cards are to be kept updated, and will be on file in the Business Office. We will release a student early only if the parent/guardian comes in person to the Business Office. Otherwise, all children will be released together on a modified schedule to fit the situation.
H. Vacation Trips
The administration and faculty of
III. Academics/Educational Policies
A. Student Evaluation
Regular daily classroom attendance and participation are
major parts of student success in school. Class work, tests, Trimester and
Final Exams, homework, class participation, projects, teacher observations and
other assignments are used to evaluate the students and to determine their
grades. At
- Cognitive Abilities Tests (Terra Nova) in Grades 3-8
- Religion
On an ongoing basis, tests, projects, class work and
homework assignments are graded and returned to the children. In order to
assure the teacher that both the parents and the student are aware of potential
problems, parents are asked to sign any assignments which reflect a grade
of lower than 70% or which do not meet minimal standards on a grading rubric
and return it to the issuing teacher.
B. Report Cards
All report cards and academic notification forms are in keeping with the policies of the Catholic School Office of the Diocese of Providence.
The progress of children in Pre-K is reported verbally to their parents within the First Trimester of the year; formal written progress reports are given at the close of the Second and Third Trimesters only. Daily informal written reports are also provided in the second half of the year.
Kindergarten parents/guardians receive a written report of academic progress in November. Report cards are given to those students in the two remaining trimesters of the school year.
Students on Grades 1-8 receive report cards three times a year. Where necessary, an additional sheet may be sent home containing teachers’ narratives discussing particular concerns, especially in cases involving Individual Educational Plans. In Grades 4-8, these addenda will contain the actual numerical grades, to further explain any grades of “-65”, and alert parents to severe academic failures to date.
Marks of I (Incomplete) indicate that Midyear or Final Examinations have not been taken due to unpaid financial obligations as outlined in the tuition contracts, or that all required class work and other assignments including homework were not completed, by the time report cards were issued.
C. Progress
Reports/Deficiency Notices
All students in Grades 1-8 receive reports of academic and behavioral progress midway through each trimester. These indicate areas of relative strength and weakness in each student’s learning to that point.
D. Homework
Homework is a necessary part of the learning process, and as
such is a daily requirement of the students’ academic program. Parents should
expect homework to be assigned daily in Religion, Language Arts (including
Parents should know the homework policy of their child’s teacher(s), be aware of the daily assignments, and check to be sure that both written assignments and daily study and review of the day’s lessons are faithfully being accomplished by the student. All written homework must be orderly, neat, complete and on time. Deficiencies in homework quality and promptness will affect grade averages. (N.B.: No student will be allowed to call home to have any forgotten homework assignment or project brought to school. Parents are respectfully discouraged from dropping off any work which they notice was forgotten. Patterns of forgetfulness will be addressed by the teacher with the parents.)
Parents should provide the student with a quiet atmosphere in which to study. Boundaries should be set for study times and outside activities. Parents may supervise the child’s homework, but need to remember that it is the child’s work, and is intended to give the teacher a means by which to see areas in which the child is in need of further explanation or re-teaching. Parents are encouraged to question the students on the material in their tests and notebooks.
A reasonable amount of homework is given each day, to promote the formation of good study habits. Diocesan guidelines, which are followed by the school, are as follows:
- Grade 1 10-30 minutes total
- Grade2 20-30 minutes total
- Grades 3 & 4 30-60 minutes total
- Grades 5 & 6 60-90 minutes total
- Grades 7 &8 2 to 2 1/2 hours total.
If parents/guardians see that their child is taking consistently longer than the suggested time frame for his/her grade, or conversely seems to have “considerably less or no homework” on a regular basis, it would be advisable to alert the teacher, to see if some additional support or re-teaching in a given subject is warranted.
E. Make-Up
Assignments
It is a goal of the faculty and administration of
F. Parent-Teacher
conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are held each fall after the end of the First Trimester. All parents should attend this conference so that a working relationship between home and school can be established, and the child can see the parents/guardians taking an active interest in his/her progress in school. Future conferences can be scheduled on an as-needed basis, at the request of either the teacher(s) or the parents/guardians.
Concerns over academic performance and/or changes in the
home situation may make it advisable and perfectly understandable that a parent
may wish to speak to their child’s teacher(s) at other times within the
trimester marking periods. However, during school hours, including any time
after
Parents wishing to speak in person with a teacher may do so by calling the Business Office or by sending in a note to the teacher with the child. In addition, the school’s answering machine can record a message left outside of regular business hours to request an appointment. The principal is willing to make arrangements to attend any such appointments, given sufficient notice. Teachers’ home phone numbers are not given to anyone without that teacher’s express permission.
G. Honors
Honors are awarded for scholastic achievement in Grades 4-8. Honors Assemblies are held following the conclusion of the Fist and Second trimesters, at which time those students achieving Honors will be presented with a certificate and pin recognizing this distinction in the presence of the student body, faculty, administration, clergy, parents and friends. The criteria for the reception of honors are as follows:
High Honors:
- Academic Achievement General average of at least 90%, with no mark lower than 85%
- Art/Music/PE/Computer/Library O – G – S
- Conduct & Effort O – G – S (No check marks in academic areas)
Honors:
- Academic Achievement General average of at least 85%, with no mark lower than 80%
- Art/Music/PE/Computer/Library O – G – S
- Conduct & Effort O – G – S (No check marks in academic areas)
Honor students in Grades 7 and 8 who have displayed evidence of Christian character, leadership, good citizenship and service may also be eligible for the National Junior Honor Society. Nominations are submitted by their teachers according to the exacting standards of the Society, and a committee of faculty, administration and clergy decide the new members by vote.
In addition to these academic honors, some children receive certificates and pins for being Most Improved, which signify those students who have shown considerable improvement in and commitment to their own intellectual development.
H. Competitions
Academic fairs and competitions are open to students in
Grades 4-8. Participation is required in Grades 6-8. Among those in which
- Spring Science Fair
- National Spelling Bee
- National Geographic Geography Bee
- National Mathematics League Challenge
All competitions lead to higher level contests, as winning scholars and projects go on to the next level of judging.
I. Promotion Policy
A student will be promoted to the next grade after the
successful completion of the present year’s work. Various factors are taken in to
consideration in the decision to promote or retain a child.
Maturity for school settings, as well as success in reading and mathematics, are crucial determiners for promotion through the primary grades (K-3). In the upper grades (4-8), any student who fails one major subject (Mathematics, Language Arts, Reading/Literature) will be required to attend summer school or to be tutored privately by a professional teacher/tutor throughout the summer. (A failing grade is any below 70%.)
Promotion and/or continued attendance at
Summer tutoring may also be recommended to ensure some continuity over the summer months if a child has been struggling to maintain a passing grade through the year, to prevent the loss of ground.
J. Retention
Notification
If a teacher considers retaining a student in the present grade, parents will be alerted as early as possible, usually by the midpoint of the Second Trimester if not earlier. This will enable the teacher, parents and student to work out a system by which the student might be helped to progress and achieve. Cooperation of parents and students is essential in such matters.
N.B.: The principal reserves the right to be consulted on all
questionable or challenged promotion/retention decisions, and to advise teachers
and parents on a case-by-case basis.
IV. Health Concerns
Although our main concern is the education of our students,
we at
A. School Nurse
Responsibilities
The services of a nurse-teacher are provided by the Cranston School Department for one half-day per week. The main responsibilities of the school nurse include promoting optimal health of the students by:
- Maintaining updated health records for each student;
- Ensuring that all new students have a complete physical examination, as required by state law, and that a required physical is completed upon entry into Grades 4 and 7;
- Helping to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, such as measles and pertussis, through the enforcement of the minimum requirements for the immunization of students, according to state law;
- Conducting screenings for potentially chronic problems, such as hearing loss, impaired vision and scoliosis;
- Arranging for annual dental examinations for all students.
The nurse assigned to us may be summoned immediately from another school in cases of serious injury or illness, or where a child’s physical well-being is of concern.
B. Medication Policy
As of August 1999, the Catholic School Office of the Diocese of Providence has issued the following guidelines for the administering and dispensing of medications to students in all Catholic schools in the diocese:
“To be in compliance
with state law and regulations, schools must conform with the following
guidelines regarding the administering and dispensing of medications to school
students:
- No school employee, staff or faculty,
any dispense or administer any medication to any student at any time under
any circumstances, except for minor first aid treatment and the emergency
treatment of a student as allowed by Health department regulations.
- The following are the options regarding
the dispensing and administering of medications to students:
The school will secure
the services of a registered nurse or nurse-teacher to dispense and administer
prescription medications to students with the written permission of the
parents. Prescription medications must be in
the original container. All medications must be stored in a secure place inaccessible to students. No student may
carry or self-administer any medication at school during the day.*
Except for a registered
nurse or nurse-teacher, only a parent may administer medication to a student
at school during the school day.
*The sole exception to
this policy is stipulated in Section 14.3 of the Rules & regulations for
School Health Programs, RI Department of Health (1/96), regarding the
self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector. Written parental
authorization allowing a student to carry and/or self-administer an epinephrine
auto-injector should be obtained and kept on file.”
(Catholic School Office, August 1999)
C. Notification of Illness/Injury
If a student becomes ill or injured at school, he/she should report directly to their supervising teacher. If the teacher deems it necessary, the child will be escorted to the Business Office for further attention. In the case of illness, the child’s temperature will be taken and he/she will be allowed to rest in the nurse’s office. Parents will be contacted to pick up their child if he/she has a fever or is unable to return to the classroom after a reasonable length of time. In the case of injury, the child will be checked carefully, watched closely and administered basic first aid.
At all times, the faculty, principal and office personnel will make the most reasonable determination for the child’s welfare. Parents will be notified in writing of any attention to their child administered during the school day due to illness or injury. Parents will be notified immediately in the case of serious injury/illness.
D. Emergency cards/Information Sheets
At the beginning of each school year, parents are required to fill out emergency cards, which are kept on file in the Business Office. These should be updated immediately if information which they contain changes for any reason, even if only temporarily.
These should contain:
- The address and phone number at which parents/guardians can be reached during school hours. Home, business, cellular phone, beeper, voice mail numbers and any other pertinent contact information must be included.
- Names and numbers (see above) of at least two relatives or close friends who have agreed to take the parent’s place in an emergency. Anyone listed should live within a reasonable distance of the school, should have a car, and be free to come for the child on a typical school day. A photo ID (i.e.: driver’s license) must be presented to the school secretary or principal in order for the child to be released to such a substitute driver.
E. Contagious Diseases
Parents should not send children to school if they are not feeling well, as other students and/or faculty members could be exposed to germs and become ill, as well. If a student has a contagious disease (ex.: measles, chicken pox, strep throat, “pink eye”/conjunctivitis), the Business Office should be notified immediately so that parents and teachers may be alerted to watch for symptoms in other children.
F. Mandated Reporting of Suspected Child abuse
Please be advised that school personnel, are mandated by law to report any allegations or suspicions of child abuse/neglect to the Department of Children, Youth & Families as soon as such situations arise.
G. Physical Education Program
The Physical Education Program is an essential part of the education of the total child. Therefore, all students are required to attend all Physical Education classes and participate in all exercises and activities.
Written notes from a parent/guardian must be submitted to excuse a child from gym class on any given day, stating a reason for the exclusion. In the case of extended periods in which a child may not participate, a note from a physician must be presented. In such cases, another letter from the same physician will be required to readmit the child to participation in gym classes.
V. Safety Concerns
A. School Supervision
and Dismissal Policy
For the safety of students and staff, our school is locked
at all times that school is in session. Visitors must enter through the main
door on
No students are allowed to leave the building or schoolyard area, even
to go to their own parents, without the knowledge and consent of a staff
member. No students are to open any door to admit anyone, including
someone known to them.
Morning supervision in the cafeteria is available after
After dismissal at
It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to ensure that the
children do not arrive at school too early or stay too late after school,
unless formally enrolled in the Extended Day Program. It is also their
responsibility to notify the Business Office of any anticipated delay and to
make arrangements for approved alternative transportation for their child and
notify the Business Office of those arrangements.
B. Fire Drills
C. Parental Access to
Students and Records
The school abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment with respect to the rights of parents. In the case of a separation or divorce, without a court order to the contrary on file in the Business Office, school personnel will therefore provide both parents access to their children and their academic records and other school-related information regarding the child. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to keep this information up to date in the office and provide any necessary court documents. If duplicate school notices, report cards, etc. are needed, the school secretary must be notified in writing.
According to the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974, parents/guardians have the right to review their child’s records. Such a review may be arranged by calling the Business Office to request an appointment, stating the purpose of the visit.
VI. Dress Code
The purpose of a school uniform at
It is the responsibility of every student, supported and assisted by their parents, to be in full regulation uniform every day. In addition, each student is to be clean and neat in appearance at all times. Certain days throughout the year may be designated as “No Uniform Days” by the principal, but even on those days, certain restrictions will apply.
Dress and gym uniforms may be purchased at:
Donnelly’s School apparel
1-800-498-0045
A. Regulation Dress
Uniform
N.B.: The following
uniform code will be strictly enforced. Children not in full appropriate
uniform will be sent to the office, where they will remain until the proper
uniform, including the regulation navy sweater and gym uniform, is brought to
school. The support of the parents in
enforcing such restrictions as listed below is essential.
Boys, Grades K-5:
- Navy twill or corduroy slacks, sized to fit
- White short-sleeve shirt
- White turtleneck
- Navy V-neck cardigan sweater only
- Navy crew socks
- Black leather belt
Boys, Grades 6-8:
- Navy twill or corduroy slacks, sized to fit (no excessively baggy slacks)
- White Oxford-style shirt
- Plaid tie
- Navy V-neck pullover vest (must be worn daily at all times)
- Navy crew socks
- Black leather belt (must be worn, despite fashion trends)
Girls, Grades K-5:
- Plaid jumper
- White round-collar short-sleeve blouse
- White turtleneck
- Navy cardigan sweater
- Navy socks or opaque tights
- Navy
twill or corduroy slacks (Dec. 1 through March 31 only), sized
to fit (no stretch material or form-fitting or “fashion” styles)
Girls, Grades 6-8:
- Plaid box-pleated skirt, hemmed to no more that 1” (one inch) above the knee
- White
short-sleeve
- Plaid cross-over tie
- White turtleneck
- Navy V-neck cardigan sweater only (NO personal sweatshirts or sweaters!!)
- Navy socks or opaque tights (not to be layered or socks pushed down)
- Navy twill or corduroy slacks (Dec. 1 through March 31 only), sized to fit (no stretch materials or form-fitting or “fashion” styles)
B. Shoes
Black, brown or navy blue shoes only may be worn.
Please purchase non-marring shoes. For safety’s sake, no sport shoes, snow boots, work
boots, hiking boots, clogs, sandals, flip-flops, high heels, platform shoes or
backless shoes of any kind are allowed in school. (N.B.: These
regulations regarding appropriate footwear have been in place for several
years. Therefore, students wearing footwear which is not in keeping with these
guidelines will be required to obtain other more appropriate footwear, within
one week of notification, to be allowed in class, due to the safety issue.
Parental cooperation is expected.)
C. Gym Uniform
All Students, Grades K-8:
- Navy
sweat suit imprinted with school name and emblem
- Navy
tee shirt in warmer weather
- Gym
shorts in gym class only in warmer weather (sweat pants worn to
school)
- Sneakers
(no black-soled sneakers)
D. Hairstyles
It is expected that students’ hair will be kept neat at all
times. Conservative styles are required. (No hair carvings, including Mohawks, or coloring is permitted.) Limits of style
and length are at the discretion of the principal. Boys’ hair is not to extend lower
that the top of the uniform shirt collar.
Parental support and cooperation is expected.
E. Jewelry
Jewelry is to be kept to a minimum. No large, elaborate or dangling earrings or pins may be worn. No body
piercing jewelry is allowed in school, with
the exception of one pair of small earrings (one per ear) in the earlobes, for
girls only, if parents permit.
F. Make-up
Mo make-up may be worn. This includes lipstick, lip gloss, colored chap sticks, fake fingernails, colored fingernail polish, cologne and perfume. Facial, eye and body glitter are prohibited.
G. “No Uniform Days”
At the discretion of the principal, some days each year will be designated in advance as No Uniform Days, on which the children will be free to dress in clothing of their own choosing, within certain guidelines.
Under no circumstances may the following be worn:
- Short
shorts
- Tank
tops
- Cropped
tops and/or low-rise pants
- Tee
shirts advertising liquor or tobacco products or companies
- Tee
shirts with inappropriate pictures or wording
- Lycra
or spandex clothing or footless tights
- Ripped
clothing of any kind
- Form-fitting
clothing of any kind
- Flip-flops
or any beach shoes or backless shoes
Individual children who arrive at school in inappropriate clothing will be told to call home for a change of clothing to be delivered or to be brought home. No student will be permitted to remain in class in clothing outside of the above guidelines. Repeated disregard for the guidelines may result in such a child being required to wear the school uniform on subsequent No Uniform Days, at the discretion of the principal.
Parental cooperation and support of the special regulations for these days will help to ensure that this tradition will continue and that all students will be able to participate.
VII. Behavior/Discipline Policies
A. Discipline Code
The purpose of education is to provide opportunities for every child to learn and to grow to his/her fullest potential. There must exist an atmosphere of mutual respect, support and cooperation in order for this to be realized.
Students at
Teachers will handle infractions as they occur. Individual situations will be handled at the lowest level possible. Parents will be notified in writing of emerging patterns of behavior, and may be contacted to discuss the matter further.
Unacceptable conduct over time could result in suspension or expulsion,
at the discretion of the principal.
B. Infractions
Infractions of school rules interfere with the normal teaching and learning processes, and therefore impact negatively on the rights and well-being of others. Such infractions include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Continuously talking, calling out and getting out of seat during class
- Rude and/or disrespectful behavior or language, including profanity
- Loud or boisterous behavior in class or in the cafeteria
- Bullying, threatening, fighting or intentionally inflicting bodily harm on others
- Bringing potential dangerous objects to school
- Willful destruction or defacement of property
- Possession or use of tobacco products, drugs or alcohol
- Cheating on tests, class work or homework
- Taking the property of others without permission
- Obtaining money or information by coercion or intimidation
- Eating during class, outside of regular snack breaks, unless for health reasons
- Chewing gum
- Running or pushing in school
- Throwing objects
- Use of any type of radio, tape/CD/DVD player, headphones, or electronic games during class time or without the teacher’s express permission (N.B.: Bringing such items to school, as noted above, is discouraged.)
- Leaving class, cafeteria or school grounds without permission
- Excessive tardiness
- Truancy
- Use of cell phones, pagers, i-pods, blackberries or any other electronic or wireless communication device during the school day.
Consequences appropriate to the offense may include, but not necessarily be limited to:
- Loss of recess
- Reprimand by the principal
- Notification of parents
- Denial of permission to attend class field trips
- Suspension
- Expulsion
- Non-renewal of registration for the following school year.
N.B.: For the safety of all, it is the right and responsibility of the administration at any time to conduct a search of a student’s desk and/or book bag if there is a reasonable cause. In addition, all threats of violence, including by e-mail, by any member of the school community, will be taken seriously. Excuses, such as “I was only kidding,” are not acceptable. Threats of violence and acts of violence will be reported to the police where appropriate.
C. Bus Regulations
Whether on a daily basis or on field trips, any student of
Bus drivers are in full charge when transporting children to and from school. The driver has the right to report infractions of the bus rules to the principal, who will conduct a follow-up inquiry into the matter. Parents will be notified in writing of any difficulties on the bus. Repeated offenses may result in the refusal by the cities to transport the child, requiring the parents to provide private transportation.
A written note from the parents/guardian must be given to
the principal and the bus driver in
advance if a pupil will be getting off at a stop other than the regular stop or
if a student is taking a friend home who does not usually ride that bus. Parents
should check with their child’s bus driver regarding their policy well in
advance of asking for another child to ride the bus, as each city or town
handles such requests differently.
D. Suspension
Suspension is an exclusion of a child from class and school-sponsored activities for one or more days at the
discretion of the principal following an investigation into the matter. Students can be suspended for
in appropriate actions, attitudes or repeated violations of school rules, or for a single incident which is deemed seriously offensive, disruptive, dangerous or potentially dangerous.
Parents will be notified immediately in the case of a suspension, which can take one of two forms. A child may be given an “in-house suspension” for the remainder of the day, in which case he/she will be revoked from class and required to remain in the area of the Principal’s Office, or the parents will be asked to come to take the child home for the duration of the day or for as many days as are decided.
In either case, no student will be readmitted to class until the child, parents(s), teacher(s) and the principal meet to discuss the matter. At the conclusion of this meeting, all parties in attendance must sign a Readmission from Suspension form, which will remain in the student’s file. This places the student on probation for the remainder of the trimester.
Additional suspendable behaviors may result in recommendations for
outside interventions such as counseling, educational evaluations, etc. Failure
on the part of the student or parents to comply with these recommendations may
result in the student’s withdrawal from the school.
All work missed due to the suspension must be made up,
including tests, class work, class notes and homework. Failure to complete all
missed work within a reasonable amount of time will result in a grade of 0% for
ant missing or incomplete assignment, and the subsequent lowering of the grade
for the trimester. No credit will be given for any work turned in while out after two
suspensions.
E. Expulsion
Expulsion is the consequence of a serious violation of school policy. Such a grave decision is made at the discretion of the principal, after consultation with the pastor. In the event of such a decision, the parents/guardians will be required to meet with all parties involved.
Tuition prepaid for any days beyond the effective date of the expulsion will be refunded on a pro-rated basis.
VIII. General Policies, Programs and
Information
A. Sacramental Life
It is primarily the duty of parents who have baptized their
children into the Roman Catholic faith to raise them to understand and fulfill
the obligations of that faith. Therefore, it is expected that all children of
the
In addition, the children in Grade 2 are prepared by their classroom teacher, with active support from the parish priests, for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the reception of First Eucharist. Parents of Catholic children registered in parishes other than St. Matthew’s may request the permission of their home pastors for their children to receive these sacraments here with their classmates. Opportunities are provided for the reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for all eligible students throughout the school year.
B. Curriculum
The curriculum of
C. Care of Books
The school is provided hard-covered texts from the cities of the students’ residency as required by law. Students purchase workbooks and other consumable materials through an annual instructional fee. It is the responsibility of the students, supported by their parents, to care for their books properly, and to pay for any texts which are damaged or lost. All textbooks must be covered at all times, and clearly labeled with the student’s name and homeroom. Children should avoid placing extra papers, pens, pencils or rulers in the texts, as these can damage the bindings.
D. Supplies
Each grade provides a Supply List which indicates what the
child will need for that grade for the year. Copies of these are kept in the
Business Office. These should be purchased by the individual families as soon
as possible and replenished throughout the year. The school runs a small
bookstore, open two mornings a week for the convenience of the students, at
which they may purchase certain key supplies throughout the year. Due to
limited space, large 3-ring binders and Trappe rKeepers may be brought to school only
at the discretion of the individual homeroom teachers.
E. Communication
As stated earlier, information regarding a child’s academic and/or behavioral performance is sent home regularly with the child from the teachers. It is important for parents to review work daily, and to alert the teacher if there are gaps in this communication or if a student seems to be exhibiting excessive difficulty in understanding or completing assignments. The sooner this is relayed to the teacher, the sooner remediation or adjustments can be implemented. Student and parental cooperation in this is vital.
The school phone is for school business only. Messages for students will be conveyed to them through the office. In certain cases, at the discretion of the office staff and/or the principal, children may use the phone in the Business Office to call home. N.B.: No student is to use any cell phone or pager, either their own from home or that of a teacher, for any reason during the course of the school day. All calls must be approved and made through the Business Office.
Teachers are not called form their classes to accept phone calls unless in the case of emergencies. Therefore, parents are asked to request a meeting before or after school by calling the school or sending in a note requesting such an appointment. If a phone conference is arranged as the most convenient, parents and teachers are asked to be as brief as possible, to avoid tying up the school line for the sake of anyone attempting to call into the school. Lengthy conferences should really be held in person. Everyone’s cooperation is appreciated.
F. Grievance Policy
In keeping with the philosophy of the school, it is important to maintain a spirit of mutual support and cooperation between home and school. Problems regarding academics and/or disciplinary concerns should be handled as soon as possible through direct means according to the following hierarchy:
- Teacher and student discuss the situation.
- Students and parents meet with the teacher if further clarification is required.
- Students and parents request a meeting with the principal and the teacher if the situation still has not been resolved.
- The principal arranges a meeting with all parties involved to come to a resolution.
N.B.: The principal is the final recourse in all mattes pertaining to
the school.
G. Field Trips
Field trips are arranged throughout the year to enhance the educational experience for the students. Trips are confirmed at the discretion of the principal. All students are expected to participate in these events. These are considered privileges, however, and permission to participate may be denied by the principal to any student whose classwork and/or behavior fail to meet expected standards at the time of the trip. Parents would be notified in advance by the teacher or principal if circumstances warrant such a decision. In such cases, the student will remain in school in the care of another teacher.
No child will be excluded from a trip because of an inability to pay. Arrangements can be made by notifying the teacher or principal.
Signed permission slips are required of all participants, and are by law carried on the bus to the site. Students who fail to provide a signed permission slip will therefore not be allowed to join the trip. Parents’ phone calls will not be accepted in lieu of the proper field trip permission slip. The parent/guardian’s signature required on that form releases the school from liability.
All school regulations will be in force for the duration of the trip, even if it extends beyond the length of the regular school day. Due to the bus safety regulations, no parent chaperone may bring a child younger than school age on a bus to a field trip destination. All parents are encouraged to offer to serve as chaperones, but must drive separately if bringing a small child.
In addition, state law now requires that any adult
accompanying a school field trip must have secured a Criminal Background Check,
obtainable through the Police Department of the town of residence, which
testifies that that individual is considered safe to serve in any capacity
around children.
H. Birthdays
Each child is allowed to wear an outfit of choice, within the guidelines for No Uniform Days, on his/her birthday. In addition, small treats, such as candy or cupcakes, may be brought to school to be shared with the child’s classmates at lunchtime on that day. (No cakes, please.) Parents are asked to check with the teacher in advance to ensure that enough treats are sent in to provide for everyone in the class who wishes to partake.
Children whose birthdays occur during a vacation or during the summer may select an “Un-Birthday” on a regular school day, to enable them to celebrate themselves with their classmates. The usual privileges would apply.
I. Party Invitations
Invitations to any parties held outside of school should be sent directly to the home of the children being invited. Invitations will not be handed out in school unless every child in the class is being invited, because children’s feelings can be easily hurt if they realize they are not being invited to a party and others are.
Please note that the school will not give out the addresses and phone numbers of anyone in the school without their express permission. Everyone’s cooperation is appreciated.
J. Lunch
A full in-house lunch program is offered by the school on a daily basis. Meals are prepared and served by our own cafeteria supervisor. Menu selections vary, and schedules of the offerings and prices are sent home on a monthly basis throughout the year. Orders and payments are to be sent in daily, and given to the homeroom teacher upon arrival in the morning. The correct amount of money should be contained in a sealed envelope, clearly labeled with the child’s name, room number and lunch order.
Light snacks and beverages are available for purchase in the
cafeteria at lunchtime, to supplement lunches which may be brought from home.
Drinks from home should not be in glass bottles, as these may break and
possibly cause injury. All lunch bags and boxes should be clearly labeled with
the child’s name and room number. Any child who forgets to bring a lunch will
be provided a sandwich and milk. This cost is to be reimbursed the following
school day. Parents are discouraged from bringing food to school after the
start of the day, as this can cause disruption to class routines and
instruction.
K. Lost & Found
Articles found around the school property are kept in a bin
in the cafeteria. Expensive items which are found should be brought to the
Business Office, to have the owner claim them there. Parents can help to eliminate
permanent loss of personal belongings by clearly writing the child’s name and
room number in indelible marker on all clothing and all materials.
L. Transportation
Qualifying
IX. Parental Involvement
A. Parent-School
Association
All
B. School Board
The
C. Volunteerism
Parents are encouraged to provide volunteer service to the
school, in areas of fundraising and classroom and office support, throughout
the year. A particular area of need is assistance in the kitchen/cafeteria.
X. Amendments
The principal and pastor retain the right to amend any section of this handbook at any time. Parents will be given notification of any changes once they are made, as soon as possible.
Parent-Student
Handbook
Parent/Guardian
Acknowledgment Form
I have read and reviewed the
________________________________________ ___________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date
________________________________________________________ ______________________________________
Child’s Printed Name Grade
& Homeroom
************************************************************************************************************
Student
Acknowledgment Form
(to be signed by each child personally)
I am a student in Grade ___. I have read and reviewed
this handbook with my parent(s) and I agree to cooperate with my teachers and
obey all rules and regulations of
________________________________________ ____________________________
Student’s Signature Date
Please return this signed form to
the homeroom teacher by
Failure to do so will result in
non-admittance to class
until this
page is returned signed by parents and student.
