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Saint
Mary's Primary School
Parent/Student Handbook
| Forward Saint
Mary’s Primary School supports and supplements parents in their
responsibility as the primary educators of their children.
Parents are expected to be involved in the life of the school via
the programs and events sponsored by the school.
The wide myriad of experiences range from volunteering of time
and talent on the many committees and activities throughout the year.
Parents are expected to assist in the financial operations of the school
via prompt payment of all fees, dues, and tuition. Students
are expected to attend school, make a conscious effort to succeed
academically, and adhere to school rules and regulations.
It is the responsibility of each student to respect the rights of
others and their property as well as to support an environment that
promotes good citizenship and is a model of Christ’s teaching. The
purpose of this handbook is to inform the Saint Mary’s Primary School
Community of the guidelines for student behavior, school-wide
expectations and to give general information for school operations and
procedures. This
handbook is not meant to cover every aspect of student and school life.
However, it is intended to establish a set of guidelines for
student behavior as well as good school operations. As
a result, the school administration retains discretionary authority to
consider mitigating circumstances in a given case.
The handbook takes notice of the fact that Saint Mary’s Primary
School is obligated to treat every student as an individual according to
his/her educational development. Mission
Statement
It
is the mission of Saint Mary’s Primary School to provide our students
with a challenging and quality education, within the framework of a
caring, safe and Christ-centered learning environment. We strive to
educate the whole child with emphasis on respecting the uniqueness of
each individual in developing his/her personal potential. Our commitment
is to prepare and develop faith-filled, responsible citizens, and
life-long learners who can meet the challenges of today’s diverse
world. Overview
Saint
Mary’s Primary School is a parochial elementary school for students in
Nursery through Grade five. Saint Mary’s Primary School is committed
to developing in children an understanding of the message of Jesus
Christ, a commitment to life in the Christian community, which leads to
loving service to those in need. Founded
in 1907, Saint Mary’s Primary School has a long history of maintaining
standards of academic excellence and promoting the integration of
Christian religious values for the spiritual growth of its students.
Genuine
parental support and authentic teacher dedication are the assets that
Saint Mary’s Primary School counts on to remain a viable force in the
development of our youngsters.
PhilosophyAt
Saint Mary’s Primary School, we believe …
ADMISSION
POLICIES
Saint Mary’s Primary
School admits qualified students to its programs. It does not
discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic
origin, or disability, if with reasonable accommodations; the applicant
can meet the program. Eligible
applicants are accepted in the following order:
This
school follows the age requirements of the
The
following items are required to complete the admission/registration
process:
Foreign
students may be admitted in accordance with the existing requirements
and regulations of the United States Department of Justice. Any student
who is not a citizen or legal resident of the All
Kindergarten students must undergo a screening to determine their
readiness for the Kindergarten Program.
Students registering for Grades 1 – 5 must undergo entrance
exams and readiness tests as well as provide previous report cards and
records. All of this
information will be utilized in identifying each student’ strengths
and weaknesses. The
administration reserves the right to require a conference with an
applicant and his/her family before a final decision is made.
The administration has the right to deny admission based on
social and/or academic performance. Saint
Mary’s does not have the capability to provide any special services to
students. Therefore, the
administration reserves the right to request withdrawal if a student is
unable to meet the educational/social requirements of the school. All
new students admitted to Saint Mary’s School are placed on a
three-month educational probationary period.
Financial/Fee Refund Policies
The administration in conjunction with the
Finance Committee sets the tuition for each school year. Tuition
Rates (2004-2005) Nursery Program
$2,950.00
Grades
K- 5
$3,050.00 The policy of a $50.00 reduction for the second and third children of the same family remains in effect. A family having four children enrolled in the school at the same time receives the fourth child’s tuition for free. The
above tuition does not include a $250.00 fund raising assessment, which
is added to the tuition if a family does not participate in the selling
of the calendars. This is our only mandatory fund raising activity. The
above tuition does not include the $125.00 registration fee or the
$125.00 book/technology fee.
All families shall be
expected to make tuition payments according to one of the following
payment plans. Each family’s preferred manner of payment must be
submitted each year at the time of student registration. Options for
payment shall include:
It shall be the
responsibility of each school family to keep the principal informed of
their need to make any changes in their preferred tuition payment plan
or adjustments in the amount of tuition expected to be paid. Without
such information, the following policy will apply when tuition payments
are received late:
Non-Admission
of Students Due to Tuition Delinquency: School families failing
to pay tuition according to the agreement which they have made with the
school or who have been unwilling to make suitable alternative made with
the principal will be informed that their child (ren) will not be
readmitted to school. All families must be current in the payment of
tuition:
If tuition is delinquent as of August 20th:
Students may not be admitted on the first day of school
If tuition is delinquent as of December 20th:
Students may not be admitted on the first day of class in
January
If tuition is delinquent as of March 20th:
Students may not be admitted on the first day following
spring break If tuition is delinquent as of
May 20th:
Students may not receive
report cards and permanent records will not be released. In the event
that it is a grade five student, he or she will be denied the right to
participate in the graduation exercises. Delinquent
Tuition from Previous Years
All
previously unpaid tuition must be paid by August 20th if a student is to
be readmitted on the first day of class for a new school year. Payments
are to be made directly to Saint Mary’s Primary School. If payment is
not possible, suitable arrangements must be made with the principal.
Tuition
Refunds
Families withdrawing students prior to the first day of
school shall be refunded the entire amount of tuition that has been paid
for the current school year. After the first day of school, tuition
refunds shall be prorated over the number of school days each student
was in attendance. The $125.00 Registration Fee is non-refundable.
Financial
Aid forms are available in our business office for parents who wish to
approach their pastors regarding parish financial aid.
Also, the Diocese of Fall River makes scholarship funds available
through the Saint Mary’s Education Fund.
There is an application process and applicants must apply each
year to be considered for aid. This fund is not associated with Saint
Mary’s Parish.
ACADEMIC POLICIESHomework
Homework
serving as an extension of the learning process, which occurs in the
classroom, is an integral part of the school program and provides
opportunity for reinforcement, enrichment and creative thinking. It
is the student’s responsibility to complete all homework assignments
promptly and as directed. Parents/Guardians
are encouraged to provide a quiet place to do homework and to monitor
their child’s study habits. Parents/Guardians
should guide, but not do the homework for the child. Our
time allotments for homework are:
Minimum
Maximum Kindergarten
10 minutes
15 minutes Grade
1
10 minutes
15 minutes Grade
2
10 minutes
15 minutes Grade
3
15 minutes
30 minutes Grade
4
30 minutes
60 minutes Grade
5
30 minutes
60 minutes Homework
consists of review and drill material, compositions, creative writing,
reports, projects, etc. It
is designed to meet the needs of students as individuals.
Some students may require more or less time to complete specific
assignments. Homework is not
given on weekends. However,
study homework and long-term projects or assignments are permissible. It
is our policy that school work and homework will not be given in advance
to students who will be absent due to a family vacation.
Students are responsible for the work that was covered during
their absence and they may complete the work upon their return to
school. In the cases of students who are absent due to illness, we also
strongly encourage student to return to school before given any work
that was missed. Grades
and Grading
Saint
Mary’s Primary School follows the Fall River Diocese grading system. Grades
1 - 5:
Progress Key:
A
(90 – 100)
M - Demonstrates mastery/consistent strength
B
(80 – 89)
P - Making steady progress/satisfactory
C
(70 – 79)
R – Requires modifications/extra assistance/time
D
(65 – 69)
N – Not working to capacity
F
(0 -64)
NC – Not covered at this time
Nursery
and Kindergarten: M
– Demonstrates mastery/consistent strength P
– Making steady progress R
– Requires modifications/extra assistance/time N
– Not working to capacity NA
– Not covered at this time
Skill/Effort/Conduct
Key Code: 1
Always 2
Developing 3
Sometimes 4
Rarely Progress
and Report Cards
In
the middle of each trimester, students in grades one through five will
receive a progress report identifying strengths and weaknesses in
his/her various subjects. Progress reports will be distributed in October, January and April. These reports are for school-home communication purpose only and do not become part of a student’s permanent record. Parents are requested to sign and promptly return the report to school.
Report
Cards
Report
cards will be issued in grades one through five utilizing the trimester
model. Report cards are
distributed in December, March, and June.
Kindergarten progress reports will be distributed in February and
June. Standardized
Testing
The IOWA Test of Basic Skills is administered in
grades two through five and the Cognitive Abilities Test in grades three
and five. These tests are used to evaluate the child’s aptitude and
achievement in basic learning areas. The results of these test are used
by the faculty to improve and evaluate the curricula and programs, in
order to meet the needs of the total student population as well as the
individual student. The scores are sent home for the parents as well a
copy for the student’s records.
Attendance
Regular,
prompt attendance is essential for success and to the quality of each
student’s academic progress. It
is our hope that students understand the importance of regular
attendance, punctuality and consistency.
In academic endeavors, if a student is absent more than
thirty-two school days, he/she may be retained in that grade.
The only exception will be days excused by a doctor’s
certificate. Parents
are required to call the business office (508-822-9480) before 9:00 a.m.
if a student is going to be absent.
Also, if necessary, we do have an answering machine to take your
information, so calls may be made throughout the night. If the parent
does not call before 9:00 a.m., the school will call the parent or
person designated as an emergency contact.
These calls will be documented and kept in the business office. By
law, a student must present a written excuse to his/her teacher when
he/she returns after an absence. After five consecutive days of absence,
a doctor’s certificate is required. It is the student’s
responsibility to make sure all missed work is completed within a
reasonable amount of time after returning to school. Tardiness
A
student arriving to school after the 8:55 a.m. bell rings is considered
tardy and must get a late slip from the office.
The classroom teacher should bring habitual tardiness to the
attention of the administration.
Early
Dismissal
Students
should not be released from school except for serious reasons. If these
reasons exist, please follow this procedure: A
request to have a child excused from school early should be sent with
the child on the morning of the early dismissal.
The time and reason for leaving should be included.
A child will only be released to the parents, unless the school
has been notified in writing. The
student is responsible for all work that is missed The
person picking up the child must be on that child’s emergency form.
At the time of early dismissal, the parent or authorized person
must report to the office to sign the Early Release Register. Students
who leave early must have completed a minimum of four hours to be
considered “in attendance”. Students
who leave before completing four hours will receive an incomplete for
the day. This is considered
a day absent. The child will be called down from the classroom when the
parent/person picking up the child arrives in the office. No child may
be dismissed between 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Appointments
Since
continued absences and early dismissals can hinder a child’s academic
progress, appointments should be scheduled after school hours. In cases
where this is impossible, a written request for early dismissal must be
submitted to the school.
Family
Vacations/Trips
Family
vacations and trips should be scheduled outside of the regular academic
calendar so as not to interfere with the academic progress of the
student. If for some reason
this is not the case, parents must notify the principal and the teacher
at least two weeks prior to the trip.
The teachers will not provide work to be completed in advance. It
will be the responsibility of the student, upon his/her return, to make
up the work missed during the absence. All
Absences, Tardiness, and Early Dismissals are recorded on the
student’s report card as well as permanent record card.
Promotion/Retention
Promotion
of a student to the next grade will be primarily on the basis of ability
to do the next grade’s work, and only secondarily on the basis of
chronological age, maturity and social development.
Students who have not achieved sufficient mastery of curricula
should not be promoted to the next grade, but rather should be assigned
or transferred. The
principal is responsible for the promotion and classification of
students. However, decisions in this regard should be made only after
consultation with the student’s teachers and other advisory staff.
When a student is to be retained for a second year in any grade,
a conference with the parents/guardians is to be arranged well in
advance of school closing. TOP
Educational
Records
Saint
Mary’s Primary School keeps all educational records required by state
law. The school compiles with the provisions of the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act also known as the Buckley Amendment. Parents have
a right to inspect the educational records of their children. Upon
request, parents may view the records in the presence of the principal
or his designate. Parents have the right to request removal of material
and, if such request is denied, to add their own written statements to
the records. All requests to review records should be in writing at
least twenty-four hours in advance of the review.
The
following documents are place in a student’s record: academic
transcripts, academic testing, and emergency forms.
Transfer
of Records
Saint
Mary’s Primary School maintains academic and personal records for each
student. Information included in these records may be released only with
written parental permission. In
transferring to another school, the records will be sent only after a
Release of Records Form has been completed in both schools.
The documents mentioned above are the only contents that will be
forwarded to a new school. For safety reasons, records will not be given
to parents or guardians to transport. No
educational records will be transferred to another school until all
financial obligations to the school have been met. Health records will
be sent in accordance with state law.
Non-Custodial
Parent
Saint
Mary’s Primary School abides by the provision of the Buckley Amendment
with respect to the rights of non-custodial parents. In absence of a
court order to the contrary, a school will provide the non-custodial
parent with access to the academic records and to other school related
information regarding the child. If there is a court order specifying
that there is to be no information given, it is the responsibility of
the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the
court order. TOP
COMMUNICATIONS
Communication
Flow Chart Parent-Teacher
Communication
Parents
are strongly urged to contact the teacher whenever the need arises. If
you call during the school day, the office will leave the teacher a
message to return your call. If
you wish to have a conference with your child’s teacher, please call,
email or write ahead to the teacher to make an appointment.
Our teachers’ schedules do not allow for drop-in conferences at
any time. Please
allow the teacher sufficient time to investigate a situation. If you are
not satisfied with the resolution made by the teacher, you may contact
the administration. If you are still dissatisfied after taking these
steps, you may contact the pastor. It
is very important that everyone involved are aware of the complete
facts. No final decisions will be made until all the facts have been
sufficiently considered by all parties involved. Communication
notices are sent home weekly with the students and will also be posted
on the Saint Mary’s Primary School’s Website: www.saintmarystaunton.com. Parent-Administration
Communication
Parents
are strongly urged to contact the administration whenever the need
arises. If you call during the school day, the office will leave the
administrator a message to return your call. If
you wish to have a conference with the administration, please call or
write ahead to the to make an appointment.
Also, through e-mail: Mr.
Brian M. Cote (bcote@saintmarystaunton.com)
Mrs.
Sandra M. Parker (sparker@saintmarystaunton.com).
Confidentiality
Administrators
and teachers will keep confidential information entrusted to them so
long as no one’s life, health or safety is at stake. Parents will be
promptly notified of teacher concerns. Office
Communication/Correspondence
All
correspondences to the Saint Mary’s Business Office must be in clearly
labeled envelopes. Please
put your child’s name grade (using both numbers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 or your
child’s teacher’s name) and what each envelope contains (i.e.
tuition payment, hot lunch, etc…) When paying for several items on one
day, please send separate checks for each item, as the money is
distributed into several different accounts.
Phone Calls
Students,
as a rule are not allowed to make or receive telephone calls during the
day. Only emergency calls are allowed. Calls for homework or permission
to go to a friend’s house are not considered emergencies. Please
do not call the office for homework request. The office will not assume
the responsibility for homework request or similar messages. Saint
Mary’s Primary School has Caller ID service, if you have a private
number and you are trying to telephone the school, you must first dial
*82 to unlock your number. After the call is terminated, your private
number will be reactivated. Emergency
Information
The
Emergency Form must be kept updated.
Please notify the business office immediately if there is a
change in your address, telephone number, work number, baby-sitter or
persons to contact in an emergency.
Please include cell phones and pager numbers. Children will only be released to people whose names are on this form. We must have at least four people to call in an emergency. This information is very important to you and to us in case your child becomes ill or injured. No
School/Early Dismissal Information
Saint
Mary’s Primary School follows the “No School” announcement of the
Taunton Public Schools:
No
School announcement will be broadcast between 6:00 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. on
radio stations: WPEP and WBZ, as well as television channels 4, 5, 6, 7,
10 and cable 9. In addition,
a recorded announcement at Saint Mary’s School (508-822-9480) will
confirm the school cancellation. If
it is necessary to dismiss early due to inclement weather or any other
emergency, every effort will be made to notify parents/guardians and to
guarantee the safety of the students. Counseling
Opportunities and Expectations
In
times when counseling opportunities or crisis intervention must be
sought by the school, the Office of Catholic Social Services of the
Diocese of Fall River is contacted.
TOP Evacuation PlanIn the event that conditions within the school necessitate a site evacuation, the safe evacuation of the students will be the primary activity. The following procedures are to be followed:Principal/Assistant
Principal:
Teachers:
Relocation Center(s):508-823-6164 508-822-0714
CATHOLIC
FAITH
Liturgy
is the center of our Catholic faith and as such plays a vital part in
the life of each student. Liturgical and para-liturgical services
provide a setting for the development of a fully Christian life. The
gathering of the Saint Mary’s community, at prayer and Eucharist, at
various times throughout the school year nourishes its members and
unites them in Christian spirit. Prayer
Prayer
is an integral part of daily life at Saint Mary’s Primary School. Each
day begins and ends with prayer. Prayer services attended by student
body are scheduled at regular intervals. Sacramental PreparationThe
sacramental preparation (Baptism, Penance and Communion) of the children
at Saint Mary’s Primary School is the responsibility of their parents
and faith communities. Saint Mary’s seeks to provide a religious
instruction curriculum, which is age appropriate for faith development
and which seeks to supplement the instruction that takes place in the
homes and faith communities of the children. Parents must contact their
pastor for the requirements for their child for sacramental preparation.
TOP DISCIPLINE CODESchool Wide ExpectationsStudents
represent Saint Mary’s Primary School wherever they go. All students
are expected to witness Christian values in all of their actions … at
school, at home and in their communities. Students
are expected to: ·
Be active participants in the
learning process; ·
Be courteous and respectful of
all staff and students; ·
Respect school property, as well
as their own and that of others; ·
Listen and follow directions; ·
Walk quietly and in an orderly
fashion in the building at all times; ·
Dress according to the school
uniform policies; ·
Refrain from gum chewing on
school grounds; ·
Complete all classroom and
homework assignments; ·
Seek additional help from
teachers, when needed; ·
Accept responsibility for
getting school communications home; ·
Bring daily lunches when not
participating in hot lunch program; ·
Refrain from any inappropriate
behavior or conduct unbecoming of a Christian student. Classroom
Discipline
Assertive Discipline Objectives are posted in each classroom. Consequences of infractions are explained and discussed with students in individual classrooms. Students are expected to live within this framework of discipline. The classroom teachers will handle all discipline before involving the administration. Parents will be notified immediately if their child is having difficulty with this process. Our philosophy is “each day is a new beginning”.
Component
Parts of the System of Student Discipline
The
component parts of the system of student discipline are as follows: ·
Warning (verbal or written) by
teacher/administration; ·
Detention or Loss of Privilege; ·
In-School Suspension; ·
Out-of-School Suspension; ·
Expulsion. The
nature of the violation will determine the consequence assessed by the
classroom teacher or the administration. The school administration is
the final recourse in all disciplinary situations and may waive any
disciplinary rule for just cause at his/her own discretion. Detention
At
all times, the classroom teacher will keep parents and the
administration informed of any student’s unwillingness to comply with
classroom rules. A student
who is given a detention is to serve it with his/her teacher or the
administration, when it is assigned, regardless of any prior
commitments. Parents will be notified of the detention and are
responsible for the child’s transportation home. Offenses
subject to detention (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) ·
Fighting ·
Disrespect ·
Inappropriate behavior outside
of classroom ·
Destruction of school property ·
Leaving the school grounds ·
Habitual lateness ·
Foul language Discipline
Guidelines
The
following offenses are considered more serious offenses and are grounds
for suspensions, at the discretion of the administration: ·
Stealing ·
Assault ·
Obscene behavior ·
Repeated harassment of a student ·
Situations involving drugs,
alcohol, tobacco, or weapons (any object used to threaten or harm
others) will result in immediate action taken by the administration ·
All violence (threatened and
acted; verbal or actions) will be taken serious. Bus Conduct
Students
should always be mindful that they hold in their keeping the good name
of the school and should so conduct themselves as to bring no discredit
upon it. Behavior of children on buses is a safety concern and will be
enforced improper conduct may cause the termination of this
transportation privilege. All
Saint Mary’s Students must adhere to the following bus rules: ·
Students are to wait for the bus
at the assigned stop in an orderly manner until the bus comes to a
complete stop; ·
Students are to refrain from any
harassment of the public or damage to public or private property at the
designated stop; ·
Students are to board and exit
the bus in an orderly fashion; ·
Students are to remain seated at
all times until they reach their destination; ·
Students shall not eat, drink or
litter on the bus; ·
Students are not to throw
objects on the bus or extend objects and or body parts outside the bus; ·
Student must cross in front of
the bus because crossing behind the bus is prohibited by state law. Students
who violate these bus rules may be denied transportation and it will be
the responsibility of the parents to transport the child to and from
school. EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
Saint
Mary’s Primary School recognizes that extra-curricular activities are
an important part of the educational experiences. Every student has a
right to join the activities and to be evaluated fairly. The
extra-curricular activities offered consist of: After School Programs,
Yearbook Club, Drama Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc… Field Trips
Field
trips are privileges afforded to students.
Students may be denied participation if they fail to meet
academic or behavioral requirements. All field trips will have an
educational purpose. Under
no circumstance will a child be able to attend or participate in a field
trip without a diocesan permission slip signed by a parent/guardian.
Verbal permission for participation in a field trip will not be
accepted. An official signed diocesan permission slip may be submitted
by fax will be accepted. Listed
below are the Field Trip Procedures that have been developed, which must
be strictly adhered to:
All chaperones must have completed a volunteer application,
Code of Conduct form and successfully completed the CORI as well as
attended the Abuse Prevention Training Workshop;
Teachers/Administrators will serve as supervisors and
coordinators making all the key decisions regarding field trips.
Chaperones shall follow all directives and realize the teacher’s
authority during this school-time activity. Chaperones will follow all
field trip instructions for students, especially those regarding lunch;
Chaperones are responsible for their own field trip
expenses;
Any child requiring medication on the day of the field trip
must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; |
