ABSENT STUDENTS
Students who are absent from school need to have a parent call the school office or send an older sibling to the office to notify the secretary or principal. Students who are absent without any information as to why they are absent will be checked up upon. A phone call will be made to parents at home or at work to check as to the whereabouts of the student.
ADMITTANCE
POLICY
Students who have
previously attended a different school and are now enrolled to attend
AGE ENTRANCE
To fulfill the
requirements of
APPOINTMENTS
Teachers are available by appointment. At no time should a teacher be asked to give up his/her time during teaching hours. However, every teacher is most anxious to confer with parents and to keep open the lines of communication. It is a good idea to call and make arrangements to visit with the teacher during his/her free period or at another convenient time. If after first talking with the teacher, you have not reached satisfaction, then bring the matter to the Principal. This cannot be emphasized strongly enough, the necessity of taking up the matter first with the teacher. Classrooms are open for visits from parents by arrangement with the teacher. Arrangements for a special consultation with a teacher will be made through the Principal’s Office.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Students may go to their
classrooms at
If a child fails to follow
morning arrival rules (has no book, disturbs others, etc.) the child’s name is
written down and is given to their classroom teacher for the student to receive
a consequence.
Students are dismissed at
ATTENDANCE
Any student who arrives at
school after
A written excuse is required
of a pupil for each absence, unless the parent has personally called the
teacher or principal stating the reason.
When students are absent
from school and parental contact is not made, the absence shall be deemed
unexcused. If a student has excessive
unexcused absences, three (3) consecutive days of school or five (5) days in a
semester, that student will be considered truant. The elementary student who misses a half-day
or more shall be considered to have missed a significant part of the day.
Permission of the principal
is needed to send a child home for any reason.
A form signed by parent must be completed when a child leaves
school. A child may leave school only
with his/her legal guardian, unless specified by the parent or guardian. This is for the protection of the child. Students shall check into the office when
they return to school from an appointment or arrive late.
Special recognition is given
to those students who have no absences.
Perfect attendance certificates are awarded to students who have not
missed any days throughout the school year.
BIRTHDAY TREATS
Please limit to one item
only. This food item needs to be wrapped
or packaged. It will be passed out the
last few minutes of the day as the students leave to go home. Pop, juice, and “Kool Aide” shall be consumed
in the cafeteria, parish center gym, or outside rather than in the classroom.
BOOKS
BICYCLES/SKATEBOARDS/ROLLER BLADES
Bicycles should be registered at the Great Bend Police Department. Parents are urged to record their child’s bicycle serial number. When traveling to and from school, students must obey all traffic regulations, and must wear a bicycle helmet. If a student does not follow the established procedure for bicycles at school, he/she will not be allowed to bring a bicycle to school. The school assumes no responsibility for bicycles. However, provisions have been made to safeguard bikes by providing bike racks and requiring that bikes be properly parked in the racks. Bike locks are strongly recommended.
Bicycles should not be
ridden on school grounds. Bicycles are
not to be ridden off school grounds during the school day except with prior
approval.
For safety reasons,
skateboards and roller blades are not allowed on school property.
BULLYING POLICY
Definition of Bullying: intimidating, aggressive, physical, verbal, and/or emotional manipulative behavior, can be any or all of these components.
Students who take part in
bullying another student or students will face disciplinary action by the
classroom teacher, principal, and priest.
Parents will be notified and a meeting will take place. Multiple violations of this policy will
result in expulsion of student.
CAFETERIA-LUNCH PERIOD
We will follow the policies
of District #428. Lunches are ordered
each day from the number turned in by the classroom teacher and are called in
by
Expectations for Lunch Behavior
The expectations in the lunchroom follow the same general expectations for the building.
1. Be respectful
of people and property.
2. Follow the
directions of the adult in charge.
3. Be in control
of his/her behavior.
4. Have
permission from the adult in charge before leaving an assigned area.
*Failure to follow these
expectations may result in eating in a different location.
CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL
On rare occasions it may be necessary to dismiss school because of adverse weather conditions. The school council and administration are aware of the hardship which can be caused by an abrupt cancellation. School will not be canceled unless a significant safety risk has been created by unusual circumstances.
If USD #428 Great Bend
Schools are canceled due to weather,
School closings because of
adverse weather conditions will be announced on the radio and television
stations:
KVGB 1590 AM or 104.3 FM 792-4317
KHOK 101 FM 793-3647
KSNC – TV
If parents or legal
guardians consider weather conditions unsafe, they may come to the school
office and request dismissal of their children.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE
In order for
CHEATING POLI CY
When cheating has occurred, students will receive a failing grade on assignment, test, or task and parents will be notified. A meeting will be set up between student, teacher, administrator, and priest.
CLASS SIZE
This policy was
adopted by the School Council on
Enrollment in kindergarten
sessions is limited to 20 students without the assistance of an aide. Class size will be limited to 25
students. When class size plus the
number of students on the waiting list exceeds 35 students, consideration will
be given to offering a second session.
Enrollment in
Pre-Kindergarten sessions is limited to 12 students without the assistance of
an aide. When class size plus the number
of students on the waiting list exceeds 18 students, consideration will be
given to offering a second session.
Preference is given
according to the following order:
1. Families and
students currently attending
2. Families of
St. Patrick and St. Rose parishes that are registered members.
3. Students and
families pursuant to the order on which they pre-enrolled for Pre-Kindergarten
and whose non-refundable deposit has been paid in full.
4. Under
exceptional circumstances the pastor, principal, and school council may hear
requests from other parents as to why their child should be allowed, should
they fail to meet the above criteria.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Teachers report
Office Hours
School Hours
“STAR”ters
Early
“STAR”ters
Late
AM Pre-Kindergarten
PM
Pre-Kindergarten
All-Day
Kindergarten
Lunch Hours
DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE & LOGIC
Our discipline philosophy
combines the use of Jim Fay's Discipline with Love and Logic and Lee Cantor’s
Assertive Discipline approach. Our
philosophy enables students to make appropriate choices in a climate of trust,
sympathy and support, always beginning with clear, concise limits and specific
consequences consistently enforced.
Discipline is a shared responsibility - shared by the student, the
school staff, and the parent. When a
student has a problem, a variety of interventions may be used, including but
not limited to, a conference with the student, a conference with the parent,
loss of recess, detention, referral to the principal or a combination of these
interventions. The interventions or
consequences should increase in severity as the frequency and severity of the
offense increases.
For more severe and frequent
offenses, the principal may provide short-term suspensions up to five days
either in school or out of school The principal may also recommend long-term
suspension or expulsion. The short term
and long term suspensions will be in collaboration with the Pastor and in line
with the policies of the Diocese of Dodge City.
Specific playground,
lunchroom, and classroom rules are set at the start of the school year and
reviewed with the students.
DISMISSAL REQUEST
Send a note to the office requesting dismissal. At that time, the teacher and Principal will be notified. A sign-in and sign-out form for each school day is available in the office for parents to check their students out or to check them back in. Each parent will need to inform the office before a student can be dismissed during the school day. The secretary will call your child’s classroom for your child.
Students need to check back in at the office when they return to school from an appointment or late arrival.
EMERGENCY DRILLS
A written plan for emergency drills (fire drill, tornado drill, and threatening situations) is available in the office and every classroom. The drills will be explained to staff and students at the beginning of the school year. Practice drills will be conducted periodically in accordance with state statutes.
ENROLLMENT
Before a child can
be enrolled in
GUM &
CANDY
Gum and candy can be given to students by teachers or staff only. Students can only consume the gum or candy in the classroom that they received it in. Students shall not be walking through the hallways or to another class with gum or candy in their mouth. A teacher or staff member can give special permission for students to consume the gum at other times, but only by special permission. Any student who is chewing gum or eating candy outside of the classroom will be asked to discard it and there will be a consequence in their regular classroom.
HEALTH
& FIRST AID
Health records of each child
are on file in the Principal's Office.
Vision and hearing for designated grades are checked
yearly. All prescription drugs must be
checked in at the Principal's Office and taken there. If a child is slightly hurt on the
playground, the teacher will send the child to the office. If a child is seriously hurt, emergency
personnel will be called.
HOMEWORK
Homework is important. It is an extension of the learning that takes place in school. Homework can provide practice and drill that reinforce classroom learning and can provide opportunities for independent study, research, and creative thinking. Parents can help their children by arranging a quiet, comfortable place for their student to work and by seeing that assignments are completed.
INVITATIONS DISTRIBUTED AT SCHOOL
Students are allowed to bring personal party invitations to school to be distributed to their classmates only if each student in the class is going to receive an invitation to the party. The only exception to this policy is if a boy wants to hand out invitations to only the boys in his class or a girl only to the girls. Students are not allowed to distribute to just a portion of the boys or to a portion of the girls. Invitations being handed out by a student must first receive the permission of the classroom teacher and are not to be distributed at recess, during our gathering time in the morning or after school as students are being dismissed.
KINDERGARTEN
A copy of the Baptismal certificate, birth certificate, and immunization record shall be presented at enrollment, unless this information was presented when the student was a HFS Pre-Kindergarten or “STAR”ters student previous to their Kindergarten year.
LIBRARY
The library is for your
use. Children may check out books for a
two-week period, which may be renewed for another two-week period. Books that are lost must be paid for. A copyright no older than 5 years will be
cost of replacement; a copyright more than 5 years old will cost $5.00.
MAKE-UP WORK
All students absent from
school are expected to make-up missed work.
Arrangements should be made with the classroom teacher to pick up
make-up work. In general, students will
be given one day for every day missed to complete assignments. Parents shall
make prior arrangements with the teacher for any trips parents plan to take
that take the child out of the classroom.
Assignments given prior to the trip should be completed when students
return. The administration and teacher
shall make determinations about how many days late work must be completed for
grade.
MEDICATIONS
During the school
year a few students from
THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT has guidelines concerning medication administration in
school. These guidelines must be
enforced in all schools including
“Diagnosis and treatment of
illness and the prescribing of medication, including over-the-counter drugs,
are not the responsibility of the school and should not be practiced by any
school personnel, including school nurses without proper authorization. Proper authorization means a written
prescription from a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or
licensed to practice dentistry, for the administration of all medication,
including over-the-counter drugs.”
Medication will not be
issued by teachers. Any pupil who is
required to take medication during the regular school day must leave the
medicine in the Principal’s Office and must comply with school regulations.
1. Medication
forms must be completed by a physician and parent/guardian before prescription
drugs can be administered.
2. Medication
must be brought to school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy
or physician.
3. Written
request from the physician or dentist and parent/guardian should accompany all
medication to be administered, including over-the-counter drugs, such as
aspirin, Tylenol, and cough medicine.
4. A safe place
will be provided for the storage of medication.
In certain circumstances
when medication is necessary in order that the student remain in school, the
school will cooperate with parents in the administration of medication.
MOVIE POLICY
Movies not directly related
to the curriculum will be evaluated with this policy. Movies directly related to the curriculum
should be appropriate to the age level of the student and if there is questions
about whether or not to show the movie, parental permission will be sought
before showing. Grades Pre-K through 4th
will only be allowed to see G-Rated movies.
PG-Rated movies will be allowed, but only after receiving parental
permission. Grades 5 and 6 will be
allowed to view G-Rated and PG-Rated movies only, no PG-13 or R-Rated movies
allowed.
PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT
ASSOCIATION (PTSA)
An association of parents,
teachers, and students is formed for the purpose of supporting the goals and
purposes of
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Conferences are held twice
during the school term (October and March).
PARKING LOT SAFETY
As noted on the next page of this handbook, the north and east entrances are designed for entry into the parking lot, whereas the west exit is the only one designated for leaving the parking lot.
A single file of cars is to
be maintained in front of the school at all times. Please follow the traffic plan below when
dropping off or picking up children.
Children need to be escorted
if they cannot walk to your vehicle safely.
We ask that vans, suburbans,
and large trucks park in the east (closest to the church) parking spaces, while
cars and smaller vehicles park in the west (closer to the school) parking
spaces.
If possible, park in the
same space each time so that your child knows where to walk.
Please have your child walk
or be escorted by you to your vehicle instead of you picking them up at the
front doors in your vehicle.
NO PARKING IS
ALLOWED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE
PARTIES
Three customary parties we
celebrate are Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. The teacher may schedule classroom parties
related to classroom goals at times during the year. In selecting treats,
proper care of carpet and cleanliness of room should be considered. Pop, juice, and “Kool Aide” shall be consumed
in the cafeteria.
PROGRESS REPORTS
Other Progress Reports,
besides the report card, will be sent home to parents at times deemed necessary
and important. A mid-term report is sent
home midway through the quarter in the first, second, third, and fourth
quarters. The teacher has the
responsibility to keep parents informed of unsatisfactory progress or
deficiency in student performance.
QUALITY PERFORMANCE ACCREDITATION
The state of
The next cycle requires the
continuation of the school improvement process and completion of the
recommendations for Cycle III made by the On Site Visitation team. Annual updates and revisions of the plan for
improvement are made annually based on the data collected and input from
teachers, the School Site Committee and School Council.
RE-ADMITTANCE POLICY FOLLOWING A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Responsibility for the
administration of control measures is vested by law in the Kansas State Board
of Health. Local agencies follow the
Law, Rules, and Regulations Relating to Communicable and Other Reportable
Diseases as published by the Kansas State Board of Health.
PERMITS REQUIRED FROM
PHYSICIAN: Pupils who have been absent from school with
diphtheria, meningococcal meningitis, poliomyelitis, pulmonary tuberculosis,
smallpox, typhoid fever, and whooping cough, are required to present a permit
from their physician to return to school.
Pupils absent with chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella (three-day measles) may return to school without permits from their physician or the school nurse provided they follow the schedule for exclusion found in your registration packet.
Pupils absent with lice or scabies may return to school after being checked at the Barton County Health Department and given a return to school admit slip.
REFERRAL TO PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE
When a student is referred to the office to visit the principal because of a behavior or other problem, there is a specific set of consequences that will be followed. This includes the entire school year.
1st
Referral – conference with the principal and referral note home to parents
2nd
Referral – loss of recess, conference with the principal, and referral note
home to parents
3rd
Referral – 30-minute detention, loss of recess, conference with principal, and
referral note home
4th
Referral – parent, teacher, principal, and student conference, 30-minute
detention, loss of recess, and referral note home
5th
Referral – suspension (in-school or out-of-school) and conference with pastor,
principal, teacher, parent, and student
REPORTING TO PARENTS
A written report card of the
progress of each pupil shall be issued quarterly. Report cards shall be marked according to the
following guideline for standards:
A - Superior
Achievement 94-100
B - Above
Average 86-93
C - Average 78-85
D - Below
Average 70-77
F - Failing Below 70
-or-
S –
Satisfactory
N – Needs
Improvement
U –
Unsatisfactory
**All report cards include a
checklist of achievements.
SAFETY
We value the lives of your children just as you do. Parents, insist that your children cross the street at the stoplight and controlled crosswalk. Motorists should exercise extreme caution while driving in a school zone.
SCHOOL BULLETINS
The bulletins and
announcements from the principal and the office will be sent home with the
students on Wednesday. Please be looking
for these every Wednesday. If it is
easier to remember, remember “Wednesday Watch.”
Notes will be handed out toward the end of the school day so the student
will remember to take them home. If
there is a note going home to every family, the oldest child in the family will
be given the note.
SCHOOL VISITATION
When coming to the school for a visit or other business, you are required to present yourself to the Principal or the secretary to let your presence and the reason for your visit be known.
SMOKING
Smoking is prohibited in the
school building or on school grounds.
SOLICITATION OF ITEMS AT SCHOOL
Students will not be allowed to solicit items at school unless it is a school project. If students want to sell items to teachers/staff, contact must be made with them at the teacher/staff residence.
STUDENT’S WORK
Some of the student’s work will be sent home daily or weekly for the parents to review. Please sign and return the accompanying attached sheet or the first sheet of the work so the teacher knows that the work has been seen, if the teacher desires the work to be returned. This will give you ample opportunity to see the type and quality of work your child is doing. If you have questions concerning the work or progress of your child, please request a time to meet and visit with your child’s teacher.
TELEPHONE
The purpose of the school office is to serve the students, patrons, and teachers efficiently and courteously. To do this, it is necessary that the office staff have the use of the office telephone. Each classroom is equipped with a telephone with an outside line for teacher and student use. A student will be allowed to use the telephone with the permission of the classroom teacher. All incoming calls are received in the office.
TUITION
Tuition will be due on the 15th of each month, with the first payment due on August 15th of the upcoming school year. At registration in early August, a coupon booklet will be given to each family to aid in the payment schedule. The total tuition is due on May 15th (or the day prior to the last day of school) of the school year. If there are any overdue balances at the end of the school year, the students will not receive final report cards on the last day of school and permanent records will not be transferred until final payment is made. Families with a balance from the previous year will not be allowed to enroll the next year unless prior arrangements have been made.
The pastors and school
council do not wish to deny a Catholic Education due to financial situations or
difficulties. Please visit with your
Parish Priest if there is a hardship.
“STAR”ters
……$600
Pre-Kindergarten……$800 The pre-kindergarten tuition is for 1 child
only. If more than 1 child is attending
school, then the 2 children tuition will apply.
Grades
K-6
1
child family…….…$1,250
2
children family……$1,900
3
or more children…..$2,250
TUITION DEFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS POLICY
In August of the future school year, parents will be asked to sign a contract promising to pay tuition and understanding the consequences of non-payment. Tuition payment conditions are outlined in the contract. The contract will be signed by a parent and the principal.
Tuition deficiency is defined as not keeping current with payment of tuition. By the 15th day of each month, 1/10 of the total tuition is due, anything less than that is considered deficient. The first payment is due on August 15th and the final payment is due on May 15th or the day prior to the last day of the school year.
On December 15th
of the current school year, a report is generated of all tuition
deficiencies. Any family that has not
paid at least half of the tuition will be reminded by a letter and it will be
determined if that family can return to
In February of the current
school year, a report is generated of all tuition deficiencies. A reminder letter is sent with current
balance and tuition payment conditions.
In March of the current
school year, a report is generated of all tuition deficiencies. Another reminder letter is sent with current
balance and tuition payment conditions.
In April of the current
school year, a report is generated of all tuition deficiencies. Another reminder letter is sent with current
balance and tuition payment conditions.
A follow-up phone call will be carried out by school council or finance
council.
In May of the current school
year, another report will be generated of all tuition deficiencies. A letter stating the balance and tuition
payment conditions will be sent including that students will not be enrolled for
next year and that final report cards and permanent records will not follow the
student to another school until payment is made in full. A follow-up reminder phone call will be
carried out by school council or finance council to make sure that the family
understands the consequences of non-payment.
UNIFORM POLICY
GENERAL
All clothing must be in a good state of repair. No
logos, emblems or insignia shall be on any clothing, to include socks, unless
officially approved. Shorts or skorts may be worn throughout the year. No coats
or hats will be worn during class time.
All students clothing should be neat, clean,
pressed, and mended as necessary.
Non-uniform, “dress down” days are announced ahead
of time and must be approved by the principal.
PANTS/SHORTS
Pleated or flat-front pants or shorts in navy blue
or khaki. No denim or corduroy. Pants may not have a flared or widened leg;
they may not have a low-rise waist and can not have “outside” back or front
pockets (the pockets must be sewn inside the pants). No jean or cargo style pants. Pants must be
hemmed and have no turn up cuffs. Shorts
are to be walking style; length should be just above the knee. No cargo shorts.
SHIRTS
Long or short sleeve shirts in solid navy blue or
white. Shirt style may be polo, oxford, peter-pan collar, or turtleneck. Shirts are to be tucked in all day.
SKORTS
Solid navy blue or khaki skort for girls. Length is
to be just above the knee, and not shorter than fully extended arm/fingertip
length. Skorts may have pleats and/or buttons, but otherwise should be free
from embellishments. No ruffles, beading, chains,etc.
If you have a question about styling, consult with the school office.
JUMPER
A solid navy blue jumper for girls. Length is to be just above the knee, and not
shorter than fully extended arm/fingertip length.
SOCKS
White, navy blue, or khaki socks or tights.
BELTS
Beginning in third grade, a black, brown, or navy
blue belt is to be worn with pants or shorts that have loops.
SWEATSHIRT
A navy blue or gray sweatshirt with the Holy Family
logo may be purchased at registration or
through the school office. Sweatshirts, if worn, must be over an approved uniform
shirt.
HAIR
Students must wear their hair in a combed, clean,
orderly fashion. Any hair style that is
distracting to self or others will be deemed inappropriate and asked to be
changed.
T-SHIRT/BLUE
DENIM DAYS
The first Friday of each month is Holy Family
T-shirt and blue denim day or as listed in the yearly school calendar. The Holy
Family t-shirt is available for purchase at registration or through the school
office. Blue denim can be shorts, skorts, skirts, capri’s or jeans; cargo or
carpenter styling is allowed. During cold weather, a long sleeve uniform shirt
or long sleeved navy blue or white long sleeved t-shirt may be worn underneath
the Holy Family t-shirt.
ANNUAL
REVIEW
A review of this policy will be considered annually
at the January School Council meeting.
VIOLATIONS
1st
offense: A note is sent home to be signed by a parent and returned.
2nd
offense: The student will call home and request that a parent bring the
appropriate uniform to school.
3rd
offense: A detention is issued
and a parent is called to bring the appropriate uniform to school.
UNIFORM
AVAILABILITY
A generous supply of slightly used uniforms is
available through the school. There is no charge for these garments; we want
all students to have access to the proper uniform items. If you are in need of
uniforms for any reason, please contact the school office. Donations are
appreciated.
Revised and approved by Holy Family School Council
on
WEAPONS POLICY
Weapons are to include guns, knives, or any other item which is a device designed to cause bodily harm.
If such a weapon is found in
a student’s possession, in a locker, book bag, desk, etc., the matter will be
handled in the following manner:
1. Parents will
be called.
2. Depending upon
the nature of the “weapon” and the manner in which it was exhibited by the
student, or situated on the school premises, authorities will be notified at
the discretion of the principal.
3. Weapons will
be confiscated and delivered to either the parents or the authorities as the
principal determines to be appropriate.
Students found to be in
willful violation of the policy will be disciplined as determined to be appropriate
by the principal.
Inspections by the
principal, or a designated person, of desks, lockers, bags, clothing, or
personal possessions of a student, may be done at any time when authorized by
the principal.
WITHDRAWAL
When a student withdraws
from