St. John's Handbook
2009- 2010
Our mission at St. John the Baptist School is to provide
a quality education throughout the daily curriculum and all extra activities.
Learning will take place in a faith-filled environment.
Christian values and morals will be taught as the basis for students to
develop spiritually, cognitively and socially.
VISION
STATEMENT
The vision for the future of St. John the Baptist is that it will continue to provide a quality education for the families of St. John the Baptist Parish and for the surrounding parishes. The school will remain viable and continue to prepare students spiritually, cognitively and socially to be contributing members of the community.
St.
John the Baptist Catholic School (PK-8), a primary educational ministry of St.
John the Baptist parish exists to help our students be the best people they
can be. This is achieved through
high scholastic, moral, and spiritual standards.
The Catholic faith and traditions are passed on through the teachings
and personal life examples of the teachers and staff.
The
school serves the students, parents, and the communities of St. John the
Baptist, Red Bud; St. Patrick, Ruma; St. Leo, Modoc; St. Boniface, Evansville;
St. Joseph, Prairie du Rocher and St. Pius, Walsh Together we prepare the
students to share the Catholic traditions; to practice virtues in our world;
to become responsible citizens; and to serve God, their families, and their
communities.
We provide a faith-filled atmosphere where students learn by example, nurturing, and high academic standards. Prayer, liturgies, service, and discipline are distinctive elements of St. John’s School. Intellectual and spiritual growth is emphasized as we serve others through outreach projects, participate in extra-curricular activities, and build community within our school family.
PHILOSOPHY
“A true education aims at the formation of the human person
with respect to its ultimate goal and simultaneously with respect
to the good of those societies of which, as a man, he is a member
and in whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share.”
(Declaration on Christian Education)
St. John the Baptist School
aims to lead the students to the knowledge of their Creator, so that living a
life in the example of Jesus Christ, they will come to an enriched and
fulfilled personal life which enables them to carry out their responsibilities
in their role as a Catholic, a family member, a community member, and a
citizen.
We believe in and strive to
work together with the parents, as the primary educators, in providing an
atmosphere where faith can be strengthened while fashioning the students’
lives according to the Gospel values and in developing the students’
abilities both intellectually and aesthetically.
To
accomplish the mission, the vision and the philosophy established for St. John
the Baptist School these objectives have been established:
1. To impart basic religious instruction and formation and to provide for meaningful religious experiences;
2. To provide quality education by imparting basic knowledge, understanding and skill in the fundamental school subjects;
3. To prepare worthwhile citizens for our Church, our country, and our community;
4.
To strive to become an extended family—a community filled with love,
care and concern.
Amended and Approved: June 2006
St. John the Baptist School Board
ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION
St.
John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic School under the auspices of the Bishop
of the Diocese of Belleville. The Director of Elementary Education has the
responsibility of implementing Diocesan Policy, once approved
by the Bishop.
The pastor is the primary spiritual leader of the parish and has the responsibility of fostering, guiding and coordinating the educational ministry of the parish. This includes those matters within the school, which affect worship, the Ministry of the Word and the spiritual welfare of the students. Furthermore, all policies set forth by the School Board are subject to his approval.
Principal
The principal is the administrator of the school and executive officer of the School Board, and is responsible for implementing policies established and/or approved by the Diocesan Board, the Pastor and St. John’s School Board. The principal is responsible for implementation of educational policies established by the Diocese of Belleville and the State of Illinois.
Assistant Principal
The assistant principal works closely with the principal to develop, within the school, a strong Catholic identity. The assistant principal assists the principal in the administration of school and Diocesan policies and has the authority to act on behalf of the school when the principal is not available.
School Board
Seven members of St. John the Baptist Parish serve three-year terms on the School Board, along with representatives from St. Patrick’s in Ruma, St. Leo’s in Modoc, and St. Boniface’s in Evansville. The purpose of the Board is to assist the Principal in formulating policies that pertain to the school. The Pastor is, also, a voting member of the Board and the Principal is an ex-officio member. The Board meets every second Tuesday of the month, except during July. All meetings of the Board are open to members of the Parishes and to parents/guardians of children receiving their education at St. John, except for those portions held in executive session. Any person wanting to speak at the school board meeting must notify the principal by noon of the Thursday before the scheduled meeting so he/she may be placed on the agenda. The pastor must approve any exception to this timeline. New Board members for St. John are elected in May and the other parishes’ representatives can be appointed for an unlimited time.
All faculty and staff members report directly to the Principal.
ADMISSION POLICIES
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
St. John the Baptist School,
along with other Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Belleville listed in the
official Catholic School Directory, admits students of any race, color,
gender, national and ethnic background to all the rights, privileges, programs
and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national
and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions
policies, scholarship and local programs and athletic and other school
administered programs. (Diocesan Policy 5111.1)
Any
new transfer student (other than those entering Kindergarten) who registers to
attend St. John’s shall be considered probationary. This probationary status will remain effective until such
time as the student’s school records are received from the transferring
school, and a sufficient period of time has passed to guarantee that any
special needs of the child can be met by existing school curriculum and
resources.
The school reserves the right, at any time, to require
that any student with needs that cannot be met by existing curriculum or staff
(as decided by the pastor, principal, and teacher(s) involved) not be enrolled
in our school. The Board of Education will be kept informed by the principal,
on a current basis, of all problem situations existing and the resulting
actions taken. All student
transfers at the 7th and 8th grade level are to be
accepted conditionally and students shall remain on probation for the entire
academic year. (Diocesan Policy 5199)
A child may be admitted into
Pre-School if he/she has reached the age of four by September 1.
A child may be admitted into kindergarten if he/she has reached the age
of five by September 1. A child may be admitted into first grade if he/she has
reached the age of six before September 1. The date of birth must be verified
by a birth certificate. (Diocesan
Policy 5111)
INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
At the beginning of the school
year each family will receive the CERTIFICATION OF MEDICAL INSURANCE & INDEMNITY
AGREEMENT to validate insurance coverage for each child through a
family policy. Insurance is
available for purchase through a company that has been recommended by the
Diocese. Any student whose
parent/guardian refuses either to provide insurance or to sign a waiver form
shall not be admitted to the school.
(Diocesan Policy 5143)
PREGNANCY POLICY
The
principal of St. John School shall inform the pastor immediately upon
knowledge of a pregnant student and of the boy involved if he, also, is a
student enrolled at the school. The
pastor and principal, in consultation with the Diocesan Office of Education,
shall make final judgments as to whether or not these students should be
enrolled or should be allowed to continue
enrollment in the school. Pregnancy
shall not be the sole reason for expulsion.
These officials shall take every precaution to avert consideration of
abortion as an option by the pregnant student.
In the light of compassion, mercy and justice, they shall consider each
person’s case individually, consult with the parents of the students,
recommend appropriate counseling resources and insure confidentiality.
The pastor and principal will inform the parish Board of Education that
they are handling a pregnancy case (Diocesan Policy 5138).
PHYSICALS
AND IMMUNIZATIONS
Physical and dental examinations and immunizations are required by the Illinois Department of Public Health and are required of all pupils prior to or upon their entrance into certain grades.
Preschool-physical exam and up-to-date immunizations
Kindergarten-physical, vision and dental exam and up-to-date immunizations
Second grade-dental exam
Sixth grade-physical and dental exam and up-to-date immunizations
Students entering Pre-School, Kindergarten,
grades two and six, and all new students must have these records on file in
the school office by October 15 of the current school year. Student health forms not on file will result in
removal of said child until these forms are produced. (Code 665, Sec. 665.240)
Students participating in any School Sports Program must have physical examinations before the first practice.
If
the physical condition of the student is such that any one or more of the
immunizing agents should not be administered, the examining physician shall
endorse such fact upon the health examination form.
TRANSFERS
When a student transfer to
another school, it is necessary to make a formal withdrawal at the school
office. A diocesan form is
provided called the Release of Information.
This form includes the name of the students, what school he/she will be
attending and the reason for leaving St. John’s.
This information is necessary to keep school records accurate.
When a new student is
transferring to St. John’s, parents will be asked to sign a release form in
order for records to be sent to St. John School.
(Diocesan Policy 5119)
Pre-registration is held in late spring. At that time, you are asked for half your fees. Final registration is right before school begins. New students are asked to have their records sent from their previous school. Students who have been home schooled are subject to being evaluated prior to acceptance. Students who are transferring may, also, be assessed in one or all curriculum areas.
Registration
Eligibility Requisites
A.
Parishioner: Enrollment Eligibility Requirements for Children and
Parents/Guardians for participating
members of St. John the Baptist and participating parishes.
This regulation shall apply to each child and
parent/legal guardian for enrollment in St. John the Baptist School who is
requesting their parish to participate in financial assistance of the
child’s Catholic education.
EACH child must:
1.
Meet admission requirements.
2.
Be a registered member of one of the participating parishes.
3.
Be a participating member of one of the parishes by regular attendance
at Mass.
4.
Comply with and support all the policies, regulations and rules of St.
John the Baptist School
ONE parent/legal guardian who signs the admission
agreement must:
1.
Be a registered member of one of the participating parishes.
2.
Be an active parishioner by attending Mass regularly and by making
weekly contributions to their parish.
3.
Meet all financial obligations to St. John the Baptist School with
payment of required tuition and other fees.
4.
Agree, support and comply with all policies, regulations and rules set
by the Board of Education, administration and staff of St. John the Baptist
School.
5.
Participate in St. John the Baptist School activities and their own
parish activities by donating either time and/or money.
B.
Non-parishioner: Enrollment
Eligibility Requirements for children and Parent/Guardian
for non-participating
members and non-parishioners of
St. John the Baptist and participating
parishes.
This regulation shall apply to any child and
parent/guardian for enrollment in St. John
the Baptist School where one of the parishes does NOT participate in
the financial assistance of the child’s education.
EACH
child must:
1.
Meet admission requirements.
2.
Comply with and support all policies, regulations and rules of St. John
the Baptist School.
3.
Be eligible for a class where space is available.
ONE
Parent/Guardian who signs the admission agreement must:
1.
Meet financial obligation to St. John the Baptist School with payment
of required tuition and fees. There
will be an additional fee charged for all non-parishioners and non-Catholics.
2.
Agree, support and comply with all policies, regulations and rules set
by the Board of Education, administration and staff of St. John the Baptist
School.
3.
Participate in St. John the Baptist School activities by donating
either time and/or money.
Amended
and Approved: August 2007
St.
John’s Board of Education
FINANCIAL
POLICIES
It
is the responsibility of the Parish and the Board of Education of St. John the
Baptist to provide a quality Catholic education for all of the students
attending St. John the Baptist Parish School.
It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians of the students to
meet their financial obligation to the school by meeting scheduled tuition
payments and other fees.
Parents/guardians
of students who are participating members of the participating parishes must
likewise meet their obligation to the parish through regular attendance at
Mass and by making a weekly contribution to their parish. The parish, Board of Education, and parents must do their
parts in order for the students to fully benefit from the Catholic education
offered by this school.
In
addition:
1.
Requests for reduction or non-payment of tuition must be made to TADS
by June 15.
Only in the event of change in a financial situation,
whether temporary or permanent, will late applications be accepted.
2.
Tuition must be paid in full by the first day of school, unless parents
are enrolled in the SMART Tuition Management Program.
3.
Those parents delinquent in payments will be notified directly by
SMART. SMART will notify the
principal each month of these problems. Principal
will be involved in contacting parents when deemed necessary.
4.
If parents are delinquent in payment of tuition or other fees for prior
years on August 1, their child/children will not be re-enrolled at St. John
School for the upcoming school year. A
meeting will be scheduled with the principal and/or pastor.
5.
Students will not receive their report cards or diplomas at the end of
the year until all financial responsibilities have been met for the current
school year. Report cards will be
held during the year if book fees have not been paid.
6.
Official transcripts and records of any student will not be forwarded
to another school until all financial obligations to the parish and school are
met. Unofficial records will be
sent within ten days of the request.
It
is NOT the intention of any policy or regulation to deprive any child of
receiving a Catholic education because of financial situations.
An application for reduction of financial obligation may be obtained
through the school office for those students who cannot meet their tuition
requirements to the school.
Amended
August 2007
St.
John Board of Education
TUITION
AND FEES
The
schedule for student registration and payment of fees and tuition shall be as
follows:
A.
Pre-Registration
1.
Pre-registration of students (grades 1-8) for the ensuing school year
shall be in late spring.
2.
Registration for pre-school and kindergarten will be in March/April.
3.
The school board sets pre-registration fees.
B.
Final Registration
1.
Final registration of students for the ensuing school year shall be in
July/August of each year.
2.
Only those students whose tuition and fees from the previous school
year are paid in full will be allowed to register.
3.
Newly enrolled students should be notified, by the first week of
August, whether they would be accepted for the coming school year.
If not accepted, pre-registration fees would be refunded.
II.
Tuition
A.
For K-8 grades, tuition must be paid in full before school begins in
August or the family must be enrolled in the Smart Tuition Management Plan.
Smart Tuition offers two payment options-monthly or quarterly.
Tuition for the 09-10 school year is as follows:
One child $2,950
Two children
4,800
Three or more children
6,000
B.
Preschool tuition will still be paid to the office.
Tuition is $900 for the year. There
are three options for paying tuition. Tuition can be paid in full at the beginning of the school
year or it can be paid monthly which is due by the 10th or
quarterly which is due by the 10th of August, October, January and
April.
III.
Fees
A.
All fees shall be paid in full at the time of final registration.
This includes $175 for books/materials and $50 for technology materials
B.
Fundraisers are very important to the financial stability of the
school. Each family has been
asked to support the school’s fundraisers that are held throughout the year.
Each family must help with the sale of these items.
A letter was signed at registration time stating each family’s
commitment to selling the specified amount for their family. If a family
chooses not to sell the items for their family’s amount, they can pay
upfront at any time.
One child $ 250
Two children
300
Three children
350
Four children
400
Five children 450
ALL
TUITON, FEES AND OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS MUST BE PAID IN FULL BEFORE
REPORT CARDS, DIPLOMAS AND OTHER AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN OUT AT THE END OF THE
YEAR.
IF
A STUDENT LEAVES THE SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND TUITION HAS BEEN
PREPAID, TUITION WILL BE PRORATED.
NO FEES WILL BE REFUNDED ONCE SCHOOL HAS BEGUN FOR THE YEAR.
IF A STUDENT ENROLLS IN SCHOOL AFTER THE YEAR HAS BEGUN, TUITION WILL
BE PRORATED FOR THE MONTHS ATTENDING. FEES
ARE NOT PRORATED AND MUST BE PAID IN FULL.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
ABUSE
AND CHILD REPORTING ACT
St.
John the Baptist School will abide by the Abuse and Child Reporting Act
(1982), which mandates all school personnel to report suspicion of child abuse
or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services.
This law covers all children up to the age of 18.
(Diocesan Policy 5141.4)
ADMISSIONS AGREEMENT
A.
The admission agreement for the ensuing school year will be distributed
at the beginning of the school year and must be returned to the office.
Any parent/guardian failing to comply with this requirement shall be
deemed to be in noncompliance with the rules and regulations of the school.
Their child/children will be denied admission to St. John the Baptist
School.
B.
Any parent/legal guardian failing to complete payments of fees, tuition,
and specified weekly contributions for the previous school year shall be
deemed to be in noncompliance with the rules and regulations of the school.
The child/children will be denied admission to St. John the Baptist
School for the ensuing school year.
An
inspection to identify friable and non-friable asbestos was performed in June
1988 at St. John’s School in compliance with new regulations from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At
that time, a site-specific asbestos management plan was developed and
implemented. This plan describes
in great detail how any asbestos exposures are being minimized.
Any person interested in reviewing the inspection and management plan
may do so any school day between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the school
administrative office. A letter
informing parents of asbestos in the building is included in this handbook and
sent home annually to parents at the beginning of the school year.
ATTENDANCE
According
to Illinois State Law, students must be in session 176 days a year.
The importance of attendance for a child’s academic progress cannot
be overemphasized. Extended or
repeated absences are not conducive to learning.
Unexcused absences could result in a student being retained at the end
of the school year. By law St. John’s School is required to enforce the
attendance rules and regulations of the state of Illinois. SJB will seek the assistance of the Regional Office of
Education when a student is exhibiting truancy patterns.
Students
are not to arrive prior to 7:30 a.m. at which time adult supervision begins;
they are to report directly to the cafeteria.
NOTE:
Primary parents may accompany students to class for the first week of
school. After that, parents are
asked to leave children at the front door of the school or at the cafeteria
door.
Parents/guardians
should not take children from classes for vacation any time during the school
year. To assist in planning, the
yearly calendar can be found on the inside cover of this handbook.
Should an unavoidable family need arise, a written request to the
Principal and
DAILY
SCHEDULES
Full Day Session
Grades K-8
7:55– 2:50
Full Day (M-W-F) Preschool
7:55– 2:45
Faculty Meeting Days Grades K-8 7:55-11:25
Preschool
7:55-11:20
Lunch Pre-School
11:00-11:55
Grades K-3
11:15-12:00
Grades 4-8
11:55-12:40
Dismissal
Preschool
2:45 p.m.
Grades K-8 2:50 p.m.
NOTE:
Students waiting for the Gibault bus after school must remain in the
designated classroom until 3:20 pm. At
this time they will be taken to the front door where they will wait for the
bus. Any student waiting for a
ride must wait inside the building at the front door.
If any student has not been picked up by 3:20 p.m., he/she will be sent
to Latchkey at the parent’s expense.
ABSENCE/TARDY
GUIDELINES
Regular
attendance is of prime importance for the student’s maximum learning. School
begins at 7:55 a.m. A
child arriving after 7:55 a.m. must first report to the office for a tardy
slip.
If
your child is absent, please call the school office between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00
a.m. and the message will be given to the teacher. Attendance means the student is present and taking part in
school functions.
A
note of re-admission from a physician is required after an absence due to a
contagious disease or an absence of three days or more.
Whenever
possible, please avoid dental or doctor appointments for your child during the
school day.
However, should such an appointment be necessary, your child will only
be permitted to leave the building after he/she has been signed out.
YOU MUST COME INSIDE TO GET YOUR CHILD.
STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING WHEN THEY SEE YOU
DRIVE UP!
When
a student arrives at school late but within 30 minutes of the beginning of the
school day, the student will be considered tardy.
When
a student arrives at school after 30 minutes of the start of the school day,
the student will be considered ½ day absent.
If
a student leaves to go to the doctor or other appointment and returns within
one hour, he/she
ANTI-BULLYING
POLICY
Everyone
at St. John the Baptist School is committed to making our school a safe and
caring place for all students. We
will treat each other with respect, and we will refuse to tolerate bullying in
any form at our school.
Examples
of bullying include:
¨
Hurting
someone physically by hitting, kicking, tripping, pushing, and so on.
¨
Stealing
or damaging another person’s things.
¨
Ganging
up on someone.
¨
Teasing
someone in a hurtful way.
¨
Using
put-downs, such as insulting of someone’s race or making fun of someone for
being a boy or a girl.
¨
Touching
or showing private body parts.
¨
Spreading
rumors about someone.
¨
Leaving
someone out on purpose or trying to get other kids not to play with someone.
Staff
at our school will do the following things to prevent bullying and help
children feel safe at school:
¨
Closely
supervise students in all areas of the school and playground.
¨
Watch
for signs of bullying and stop it when it happens.
¨
Teach
the Steps to Respect program to
students.
¨
Respond
quickly and sensitively to bullying reports using the Steps
to Respect Four-A Response Process and coaching models.
¨
Take
seriously parents’ concerns about bullying.
¨
Look
into all reported bullying incidents.
¨
Assign
consequences for bullying based on the school discipline code.
¨
Provide
immediate consequences for retaliation against students who report bullying.
Students
at our school will do the following things to prevent bullying:
¨
Treat
each other respectfully.
¨
Refuse
to bully others.
¨
Refuse
to let others be bullied.
¨
Refuse
to watch, laugh, or join in when someone is being bullied.
¨
Try to
include everyone in play, especially those who are often left out.
+ Inform an adult of the bullying.
AWARDS
HONOR
ROLL: (Grades 6-8): To help
motivate and encourage the students to work to their potential, St. John
School posts an Honor Roll each quarter.
In order to be placed on the Honor Roll, a student must maintain the
following criteria:
ACADEMIC
EXCELLENCE- A student receives all A’s (4.0) in the 7 core subjects
(Religion, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, English, and Spelling) and
no grades less than a B in the minor subjects (Computer, Music, PE, Art and
the Quarter classes).
HIGH
HONORS – A student receives a 3.6 to 3.9 grade point average in the core
subjects and no grades less than a C in the minor subjects (Computer, Art,
Music, PE and the Quarter classes).
HONORS-A student receives a 3.0-3.5 grade point
average in the core subjects and no grades less than a C in the minor subjects
(Computer, Art, Music, PE and the Quarter subjects).
Awards Day is held at the end of the year for all
grades. Students receive awards
and recognition for their achievements throughout the school year.
Certificates and pins are the usual awards given to the students.
Plaques are given to students who have participated in Speech, ROE Art
contest and Children’s Choir for four years (Grades 5-8).
Please note after the Class of 2012 (Sixth grade) graduates, awards for
the ROE Art Contest will be discontinued.
So beginning with the current fifth grade class, students may
participate in the Art contest for four years but they will not receive a
plaque. This is only a one-day
event and many other one-day events that our children participate in are not
rewarded with four-year plaques.
CAFETERIA
St.
John conducts a hot lunch program. Lunch
money is collected on the first day of school each week.
If a child is absent during the week, he/she is given credit for the
unused meal on the following week’s purchase.
The children may pick the days they want to eat a school lunch.
On the other days, the students must pack a lunch from home.
The cafeteria personnel are encouraged to serve food from the meat,
milk and bread groups. Children have a choice in the lunch line regarding
vegetables, fruit or dessert. These items are optional.
There are also options to the main entrée.
The
cost of the school lunch is $12.50 per week ($2.50 per meal).
Extra milk at lunch may be purchased for $ 0.35.
Lunch
table conversation should be in keeping with Christian principles.
Students must refrain from improper and/or foul language as well as
from harassing other students during table conversation.
FREE & REDUCED LUNCHES
Any
Parent/Guardian may apply for free or reduced lunches.
At the beginning of the school year, forms are available for those
families wishing to apply for free or reduced lunches.
The
Parents
are assigned on a volunteer basis once or twice a month to serve food in the
cafeteria lunch line. If you are
unable to work, you are asked to contact a substitute. All volunteers must meet child protection requirements.
CELL
PHONES
Students
may have cell phones in their possession at school and school activities.
Students are asked to keep them in their backpacks and they must be
turned off at all times. If a student must use his/her cell phone during the day, that
call must be made from the office. If
a student is caught using his/her phone during school hours, there phone will
be taken away from them. It will
be returned at the end of the day. If
a student is caught a second time, their parent must pick up the phone from
the principal’s office.
CONDUCT
& DISCIPLINE
One
aim of St. John School is to assist the child in developing Christian
self-discipline. When
parents/guardians send their child(ren) to school, they are delegating some of
their teaching authority to the school. The
child should bring to school good habits of discipline already formed at home.
Good discipline promotes healthy academic progress.
Children
are expected to respect and cooperate
with teachers, staff and supervisory personnel, volunteer workers,
cafeteria personnel, maintenance workers, bus drivers, patrol guards, and
coaches—at school or at school-sponsored activities.
Respect
for school
property as well as the property of others is expected of every student.
Compensation will be made to the school for any damage to the school
facilities (i.e. windows, plumbing, etc.) and for learning materials (texts,
library books).
At
no time is corporal punishment used at St John the Baptist School as a form of
discipline. Students are
responsible for their behavior and must face consequences for their
infractions. These consequences
may include losing privileges, an effect on grades, recess and/or after school
detention, or removal from school.
True
discipline involves both preventive and corrective procedures for helping
students take charge of their own lives, make decisions, and learn from the
consequences of those decisions. (Diocesan
Policy 5144) Those students
choosing to disregard school rules/regulations will be disciplined according
to their infraction. The
parent/guardian will be notified of the infraction and are asked to discuss
the infraction with their child.
The
following outline applies to students in
all grades.
Lower
Level Behaviors & Consequences
Violating
Dress Code
Passing notes
Constant inattention
Chronic
tardiness
Chewing gum Disruptive
behavior
Not
returning required work
Other inappropriate behavior
Parents
should be notified when there is inappropriate behavior.
Parents will be notified by the teacher when there is a third offense.
Consequence:
First
Two Offenses: warnings (check marks issued)
Third
Offense :
lunch recess with principal
When
a student has served three lunch
detentions with the principal, an after school detention may be given.
Middle
Level Behaviors & Consequences
Cheating
on tests/homework
Damage to school/parish property
Forging
parent’s signature Defacing
school/parish property
Disrespect/Insubordination
to an adult
Profane language or gestures
Bullying (physical exclusion/unspoken intimidation)
Intent
to harm others (i.e. biting, hitting, throwing a person to the ground)
Parents
will be notified by the principal when the student is sent to the office for
above behaviors.
Consequence:
First Offense :
lunch recess with principal
Second Offense:
after school detention
Third
Offense:
in-school suspension
Any
student on in-school or out of school suspension will be ineligible to
participate in any school-sponsored extra-curricular or sports activities on
those specific days.
Serious
Level Behaviors & consequences
Alcohol
possession
Leaving school grounds without permission
Assault
& battery
Possession/use of dangerous weapons
Arson Sexual assault/harassment
Drug
possession/use Stealing
Gross
disrespect/misconduct Vandalism
Parents
are notified immediately if a student has committed one of the above serious
infractions.
The
Principal, along with the Pastor, will investigate all the circumstances
surrounding these infractions before discussing the consequences with the
parents.
Consequence:
First
Offense - immediate out-of-school suspension (number of days to be determined
by the administration and zero grades on all missed work.
Second
Offense - possible expulsion
Police
and other authorities will be notified when appropriate for the above
offenses.
If
a student is suspended for Serious Level Behavior(s), a mandatory conference
of the parents/guardians/teacher/ principal and pastor must take place before
the child is allowed to return to school.
Parents/guardians may choose whether or not the child should be
present. Results of the
conference will be documented and kept on file by the principal. Copies will be forwarded to all parties in attendance.
This meeting will offer guidance and set conditions for re-admission,
if the student will be returning. If
after due process is given, the principal may recommend expulsion.
As used here, expulsion
refers to the removal of the students for the remainder of the school year. (Diocesan Policy 5114)
Any
student who has initiated or taken part in any act of vandalism, theft, arson,
or serious crimes against persons will be reported to the police.
Further, it shall be the policy of the Diocesan Board of Education that
the school shall recover damages from the parents/guardians of any minor, or
from any person who has initiated or taken part in such acts.
Student Conduct and Safety—Threats of Violence
A
student’s written or verbal threat of violence toward other students and /or
persons within the school will be taken seriously.
Upon learning that such a threat has occurred, the principal will
suspend the student into the custody of parent/guardian until a satisfactory
psychological evaluation by a licensed mental health professional is completed
and the principal agrees that the student may return to school. The local police will be
promptly notified of the threat. (Diocesan Policy 5142.)
RIGHTS
OF STUDENTS/FACULTY/STAFF
EACH
MEMBER OF THE ST. JOHN GRADE SCHOOL COMMUNITY MUST REMEMBER THAT AS A
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND BE EXAMPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN
LOVE. EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST BE A CATALYST IN ITS POSITIVE GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT AND REFRAIN FROM PUBLIC NEGATIVE COMMENTARY.
RESPECT MUST BE PRACTICED AND
PROMOTED AT ALL TIMES.
The
individual rights of students as citizens are respected when they enter St.
John Grade School. These rights
are protected in many ways. Indirectly,
they are protected through education of students as to their rights, through
growth in their moral consciousness and through development of their
character. Directly, these
rights are protected by legal safeguards, both through acknowledgment of these
rights and a procedure to restore these rights when these rights are violated.
With these rights comes the responsibility to discipline oneself and an
obligation to represent the school in a positive manner.
EQUALLY
IMPORTANT ARE THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF ALL ST. JOHN FACULTY AND STAFF.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO ROLE
MODEL RESPECT FOR THESE PERSONS AND EXPECT THEIR CHILDREN TO DO THE SAME.
In
order that the rights of any members of the St. John School Community are
protected, each member must have the following:
1.
Personal knowledge of any charges against a member of the community
that would harm his or her freedom, status, or property.
2.
An opportunity to be heard and prove false the evidence or witness
against him or her.
3.
An opportunity to show that the rules or laws being applied to a member
of the community are unreasonable or in some way should not be applied.
Anyone
having a need to share information, a question, disagreement or concern is to
contact the person who is foremost responsible.
Adults are expected to refrain from discussing any problems or
grievance with other people until the responsible party(ies) has (have) had an
opportunity to resolve the issue.
PROTOCOL
1.
Parents/guardians are asked to speak with the TEACHER/COACH first
before the principal.
2.
The PRINCIPAL before the PASTOR.
3.
The PASTOR before the SCHOOL BOARD.
4.
Issues are to be addressed at local level before involving diocesan
personnel.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
1.
Parents will be notified as soon as possible following a serious
incident involving their child.
2.
The school will request a 24-hour grace period prior to meeting with
the parents.
3.
Following the initial conference, a second phone call or follow-up
conference may be scheduled to determine if the assigned consequences have
been effective or if further action is necessary.
St.
John the Baptist School may determine how to deal with any particular conduct
or pattern of conduct depending upon the nature and severity of the
infraction, surrounding circumstances and prior record (Diocesan Policy 5131).
Also, the disciplinary code of the school and all penalties shall apply
to conduct off-school grounds that is contrary to Christian principles and may
endanger the health and safety of student (Diocesan Policy 5131.1).
The
curriculum follows the guidelines of the Diocese of Belleville and the State
of Illinois in regard to subjects taught and time allotment for the various
grade levels.
FINE
ARTS, PRACTICAL ARTS AND OTHERS: Students are given opportunities to enjoy
aesthetic experiences through a music curriculum, participation in school
programs and assemblies, art classes and field trips.
LANGUAGE
ARTS: Reading and writing are taught daily using group and individualized
methods.
Phonics, Vocabulary, English, Spelling and Penmanship skills are taught
in conjunction with Reading. The
Accelerated Reader Program is required of students in Grades 3-7 and Grade 2
in second semester. Parents
need to be advised that there may be some books in the library that you may
not want your child to be reading. The
content of some books may have subject matter that you do not want your child
to read. It is the parent’s
responsibility to monitor the reading material that your child has chosen.
MATHEMATICS:
Mathematics involves basic computation, critical thinking, and problem solving
skills. Daily math sessions and
hands-on projects are component parts of the Math Program.
Algebra is offered to those 8th grade students who meet
certain academic qualifications. Algebra
is an honors class and is weighted accordingly for honor roll determination.
RELIGION:
A program of religious education is conducted throughout the school in
accordance with Diocesan guidelines. It
is important the Religion and Christian values become relevant to the students
and be translated into their daily lives.
There are numerous opportunities for Liturgies, Sacramental Preparation
(First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation), Scripture Services,
Reconciliation Services. We use
the COME AND SEE PROGRAM which gives students a look at areas of the
world that are poverty stricken, yet live happily with Christian values.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE AT THE STUDENT LITURGIES.
THE FAMILY LIFE PROGRAM (Grades K-8) deals with
issues that can enhance, harm or diminish the life of a young person.
It encourages better family communication.
Through a cooperative approach involving home and school, both
parents/guardians and teachers share in guiding students to develop healthy,
wholesome Christian attitudes toward sexuality.
GAME PLAN (Grade 7) is a positive, sports–themed
approach to understanding the benefits of abstinence before marriage.
The program helps teens formulate a “game plan” for their future so
they can make good decisions that will help them in reaching their future
goals and dreams. A student may
be excused from human sexuality classes only if a parent gives written
permission and submits an alternative instructional plan in writing to the
pastor.
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION, HEALTH & SAFETY: Healthy living is encouraged through materials
presented in Science, Physical Education, and Religion classes.
Students must wear indoor tennis shoes in the gym and those in Grades
4-8 must wear PE clothes. PE clothes will be a pair of gym shorts of an acceptable
length with an elastic band waist (no snaps, zippers, etc.) and a tee shirt
that has sleeves that have not been cut off.
PE clothes must be carried to and from school in a bag.
SCIENCE:
Critical thinking, observation, experimentation, and use of basic mathematics
computation are all part of the basic course work.
SOCIAL
STUDIES: Social Studies is taught with emphasis in the areas of World and
American History, World Geography and Civics.
Seventh graders must pass the Federal Constitution test and Eighth
graders must pass the Illinois Constitution test in order to graduate from St.
John’s.
COMPUTERS:
Computer skills – including keyboarding, usage and research skills – are
taught in the Computer Lab and put to further use on computers within the
classroom.
MUSIC:
St. John’s music program consists of a weekly class for all students
in Grades Pre-K-8.
LIBRARY:
St. John’s has a library staffed by dedicated volunteers.
Classes are given opportunities to check out books on a regular basis
and are asked to treat books with respect, returning them directly to the
classroom library containers on time. A
fine of $0.05 for each “school” day a book is overdue will be charged.
The school must be fully
reimbursed for lost books. Students who have books/fees outstanding will
be denied use of the library. Written
notification will be sent home. These
costs will be included in overall tuition/fees remaining at the end of the
school year.
DISASTER
EMERGENCIES
Drills
for bus, fire, tornado, and other disasters are held periodically throughout
the school year. The following
safety procedures have been developed in the event of a disaster.
1.
No
student will be dismissed from school unless a parent/guardian, or the
responsible adult as designated by the parent/guardian comes for the child.
2.
No
child will be allowed to leave with another person, even a relative or
babysitter, unless the parent/guardian gives written permission to that effect
or that particular person is listed on the emergency form in the school files.
3.
All
parents or designated parties who come for the students must sign them out at
the office.
4.
If a
parent/guardian is not able to reach the school, the child(ren) will be cared
for here until parent/guardian arrive. The
school will be in communication with local emergency services.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL.
NOTE: The
school office/staff have an EMERGENCY PLAN available for specific
procedures/codes relative to
individual disasters.
DRESS
CODE
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
D.A.R.E.:
Grade 6 Drug Awareness Education Program.
SPEECH CLUB:
Grades 5-8 will have an opportunity to compete against other Diocesan
Schools in two or three meets a year in the areas of serious drama, humorous
drama, and/or duet acting. A local small schools’ competition is also held annually.
LITERARY ARTS:
Grades K-8 are invited to participate in the Red Bud Elementary annual
Language Arts Festival. Some books produced are taken to a Young Authors’
Conference in the Spring.
ART CONTEST :
Grades 5-8 may participate in the Bi-County contest each spring.
SPELLING BEES:
Grades 5-8 conduct grade level spelling bees.
The room winners then compete against each other to determine a school
winner. There are several spelling bees outside the building that
grades 5-8 may qualify for. Grades
1-4 conduct grade level spelling bees in their own rooms.
READING PROGRAMS:
Grades K-8 can participate in the Book-It, Six Hundred Minutes and
Raging Rivers reading programs which earn them passes to Six Flags, Raging
Rivers and Pizza Hut.
PIANO/VOCAL
CONTESTS:
Students in Grades
5-8 may participate in State-sponsored competition each spring.
(They need to secure their own accompaniment).
CHILDREN’S
CHOIR: Students in Grades 2-8 may participate in the Children’s Choir.
Two monthly in-school practices and one monthly 10:00 Sunday Liturgy
participation are required.
MATH CLUB:
Students in Grades 5-7 may participate in Math Club.
This group meets once a month to have fun with math concepts.
They play games, work puzzles and compete in friendly competition
involving their math skills.
FEDERALLY
FUNDED PROGRAMS
St. John students receive money from various
state or federally funded programs. The
cafeteria benefits from some of these programs. Bus transportation and reimbursements monies are available to
our parents. Certain year money
is available for textbooks, which are the property of the State of Illinois.
Parents/guardians request the use of these books at initial
registration. St. John’s also
receives the benefit of some federally funded programs:
Title I
Reading for at-risk students
Title II
Teacher In-Service
Title IV
Drug Free Money
Field trips are considered a part of the student’s
regular academic studies and are scheduled by the teacher with the permission
of the principal. Trips may be
taken to cultural or educational sites and/or events.
Permission slips will be sent home for all excursions
a week in advance of the trip. NO
CHILD WILL BE PERMITTED TO GO ON A FIELD TRIP IF THE SCHOOL PERMISSION SLIP IS
NOT IN PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
FAILURE TO RETURN THE DIOCESAN-MANDATED PERMISSION SLIP WILL RESULT IN
THE STUDENT REMAINING IN THE SCHOOL WITH ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND ASSIGNMENTS
TO COMPLETE.
The teachers and principal will determine the number
of parent chaperones. This number may vary with each grade level based on the
destination, nature of the field trip and the availability of seating on the
bus.
Parent
drivers must produce proof of vehicle insurance prior to chaperoning/driving
students anywhere to school sponsored activities.
HOMEWORK
Students
are responsible for promptly completing assigned work and submitting it to the
teacher. When a student is
absent, parents/guardians are to arrange for his/her assignments, books and
notes to be picked up at the end of the school day.
The children assume the responsibility of making up their assignments
and tests. Please do not pick up
homework from the office before 2:00 p.m.
It
is recommended that student class work that is to be done at home be
reasonably assigned within the following timeline for the average student
(Diocesan Policy 6154): the
actual time spent on homework will vary amongst the students.
Primary
Grades : 30 minutes
Intermediate
Grades:
45 minutes
Upper
Grades :
90 minutes
Departmental
teachers are encouraged to notify each other when long-range projects are
assigned so as not to overload the students on any given day.
Each
parent/guardian should help his/her child develop good homework habits by
providing a regular time and place for the student to do homework, by
understanding the homework requirements of the teacher and by working with the
teacher should a student fail to complete homework.
Guidelines
¨
All homework in Grades 4-8 must be submitted to the homeroom teacher by
8:10a.m. to receive credit.
¨
LATE OR NEXT DAY homework papers will receive a deduction of 15%.
Copying
from another student constitutes cheating.
This is a form of co-dependency and is totally unacceptable.
An automatic grade of O will be given any student caught cheating.
If
children have trouble with an assignment, we suggest that parents check to see
that they understand the directions. If
children still have difficulty, parents may help them with the first part of
the assignment. If children still
cannot complete a homework assignment, parents and other family members should
not do the work for their children, but write a note explaining what
you believe to be the problem.
Parents’
and teachers’ words of support are an important way to motivate children to
do well in school. It’s
important that children accept the responsibility to do their homework and
take pride in a task well done. The
homework will be checked and needed skills reinforced.
Homework
and Illness/Vacation/Emergencies
¨
We
discourage vacations during the school year because students miss classroom
explanations of new concepts, new learning activities, and the assigned work.
¨
Homework
will be assigned at the discretion of the teacher – either before or after
the vacation or following families emergencies.
¨
Students
absent due to illness will have the number of days absent to complete missed
work and assignments.
In keeping with state and federal laws, school
personnel (salaried or volunteer) are not permitted to administer first aid or
dispense medication to any student. For
first aid, the wound may be cleansed. If
the student needs more attention, the parents will be notified.
Only emergency first aid measures will be taken and parents will be
notified of the action taken. Students
receiving cuts or scrapes will be instructed to wash with soap and water.
Bandages will be administered. School
personnel will not administer ointments, creams, or hydrogen peroxide.
If, in a matter of accident or illness, a student
requires medical attention, the following procedure will be followed:
(1)
The parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.
If the parents/guardians or relatives cannot be reached at once, the
student will be cared for until contact can be made. Students should be picked up within an hour after being
notified.
(2)
If, in the judgment of the
principal or designee, the injury or illness is serious enough to require
hospitalization, the student will be transported immediately by ambulance.
(3)
The school will give the police, firemen or other rescue officials
written information concerning the student’s name, parents’/guardians’
names, telephone number and home address.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Students should not come to school if they are ill.
They are not able to give their best attention and other students and
staff are exposed to their illness.
Students should be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to
school.
IMPETIGO
May not attend school until all sores are completely healed.
HEAD LICE
Students may not return to school until shampoo treatment has occurred.
The school office must be
notified when a student is discovered with head lice.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE) May return
to school 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic.
For
the welfare of the other children, no child should be in school during the
contagious period of any communicable disease, whether listed here or not.
In
case of inclement weather or emergency closing, tune into the radio St. Louis
KMOX – 1120 or the TV station Channel 5 for an announcement.
St. John School will be closed whenever Red Bud (District #132) closes.
ST. JOHN SCHOOL WILL NOT BE MENTIONED BY NAME.
An optional school insurance packet will be
sent home at the beginning of the school year.
All students must have some type of hospital/medical insurance on file
(Diocesan regulation).
Students involved in any athletic program must
have insurance plus a physical exam before participating in the first practice
of each sport.
All
students have access to the computers in the classrooms and the lab.
There are certain rules that must be followed.
Parents and students must sign the internet usage sheet stating they
understand the rules that must be followed.
(Diocesan Regulation) Students
are not permitted to send emails, send messages or “surf” unacceptable
websites with school computers. These
actions may cause the student to lose computer privileges or harsher
discipline action (suspension).
The Illinois Health Law prohibits school
personnel from supplying medicine to children, including aspirin, antacids,
antihistamines, cough drops or cough syrup.
If your child needs medication during the school day a parent may come
to the school to administer or a MEDICATION
RELEASE FORM will need to be kept on file in the school office.
No student should have any type of medication (prescribed or
over–the-counter) in his/her possession during school hours or functions.
Medicine must be kept in the school office and administered only by the
principal or designee. All
medicine must be in the original container and marked with the student’s
name. Students with asthma
may carry their inhaler with them at all times, but the necessary paperwork
must be on file.
MISCELLANEOUS
Birthdays
Classroom birthday treats should be limited to one
item only and must be pre-packaged or bakery-generated.
Treats may be distributed in the classroom and there should be enough
for the whole class. (Note: Health Department regulations prohibit homemade
food items from being dispersed on school premises for the health/safety of
the students). NO DRINKS OR ITEMS REQUIRING CUTTING, PLEASE.
School
Volunteer Applications
St. John the Baptist School relies on the services of
many people who volunteer their time to help students in many ways.
Diocesan policy requires that anyone who works with children complete a
Volunteer Application Form and the CANTS form and participate in the
Diocesan-mandated “Child Protection Policy” training program.
(See school office for details.) This
includes teachers, aides, cafeteria workers, coaches, library workers,
secretarial help, room parents/guardians, field trip monitors, school –
sponsored activities, etc. This
policy is necessary for the safety of our students.
Call the office for this important information.
No exceptions will be made!
Telephone Calls
The office phone is a business phone.
It is unavailable for general use except in case of an emergency.
The Teachers Lounge is for teacher and staff use only.
Toys/Radios/Etc.
Students
should leave personal toys, (including skateboards, CD players, radios,
portable video games) and playground equipment at home.
These items can be broken or lost and often can create problems on the
playground.
Visitors
St.
John has an “open door” policy regarding classroom visitors.
When planning to visit, please call the office
at least one day in advance. All
guests are required to stop in at the school office to sign in.
This includes all delivery persons, mail carriers, parents/guardians,
salespersons, etc. Parents dropping off supplies/notes should NOT go to the classroom;
leave the items with the secretary or principal.
PROGRESS
REPORTS/REPORT CARDS
PROGRESS
REPORTS (all grades) are distributed four (4) times a year, mid-way through
each of the quarters, to update parents/guardians of their child’s progress.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to contact the teacher before final
grades are on the quarterly report card.
This report should be signed by the parents/guardians and returned to
school.
GRADING
SCALE
Grades 1-8:
A+
100%
A
94 – 99%
A-
93%
B+
92% B
87 – 91%
B-
86%
C+
85% C
79 – 84%
C-
78%
D+
77% D
71 – 76%
D-
70%
F
Below 70%
CONFERENCES
The
purpose of parent/teacher conferences is to acquaint the parent/guardian with
the teacher and to discuss the child’s abilities and achievements.
School-wide conferences will be offered at the end of the first
quarter.
Parents
may request a conference with the principal or teacher at any time.
These will be scheduled at a time convenient for
those involved.
NOTE:
Following the second report card, the teacher and principal will consult regarding
at-risk students. A letter will
be sent home to parents/guardians stating concerns.
A conference may be held at this time to discuss the teacher’s
concerns.
A
conference will be necessary if a student is failing in three major subject
areas. Options for the following
school year will be discussed following the third quarter reports.
(NOTE:
A STUDENT RECEIVING AN “F” AVERAGE IN THREE MAJOR SUBJECTS FOR THE
YEAR COULD POSSIBLY BE RETAINED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.)
RECORDS
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act gives
parents/guardians the right to access records. St. John’s parents/guardians are asked to give the school
office 24 hours notice by written request if they wish to view a record.
This
school abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment with respect to the
rights of non-custodial parents/guardians.
In the 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 no
information to be given, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to
provide the school with an official copy of the court order. (Diocesan Policy
5125)
If
a student transfers to another school, the student’s records will be sent
upon request of the receiving school as long as all financial responsibilities
have been met.
SEXUAL/RACIAL/GENERAL
HARASSMENT
Any
employee or student who believes he/she has been subjected to racial, sexual
or general harassment or has witnessed such misconduct must report the
incident to the appropriate supervisory individual and appropriate action will
be taken (Diocesan Policy 4116.2)
The
report shall include the following:
1.
A written complaint must be submitted by the person who reported the
incident.
2.
A thorough investigation must be initiated within 24 hours and be
completed in a week.
3.
Any person who is found to have engaged in racial, sexual or general
harassment will be subject to appropriate, corrective action, depending upon
the circumstances, up to and including, termination or expulsion.
The
person who reported the incident will be advised of the findings and actions
taken.
SNACKS
Healthy
nutritious snacks only should be sent to school.
Snacks are to be eaten indoors. This
practice prevents the possibility of a child choking on food while playing or
running around outdoors. It also
prevents debris from accumulating on the premises.
No drinks or liquid snacks should be brought to school.
NOTE:
Birthday treats/snacks must be pre-packaged or purchased at a bakery and
served in the classroom.
NOTE:
St. John School has implemented the Diocesan-sponsored WIN THE PRIZE (1
Corinthians 9:24-25) for putting faith practice and catechesis back into
church-sponsored sports. This is
a program that will establish standards for the diocesan sports programs.
All coaches are to be trained and certified in the program.
Coaches must be child-protected.
Purpose
The
purpose of St. John Athletic Program is to provide an environment where
students can develop individual skills, positive attitudes towards themselves
and their team and good sportsmanship toward teammates and opposing teams.
Good sportsmanship is considered a game fundamental and must be
incorporated in the learning process. Participation
in sports should be an activity, which allows the child to experience fun and
comradeship. Athletic
participation helps to develop physical coordination, provides mental
challenges, accents the value of team cooperation and emphasizes the results
of determination and hard work. The
athletic program is designed to promote and reinforce Catholic ethics and
values.
Students
who participate in practices and develop the attitudes and skills listed above
will have opportunities to play. Playing
time in Grades 4 and 5 may not be equal because this is a learning level;
students will have as much playing time as possible.
In grade 6, which is still a learning level, but one age level higher,
students may not necessarily have equal playing time but will play as much as
possible as directed by the coach. Playing
time in Grades 7 and 8 is more selective as judged by the coach.
Individual abilities developed by the students and game situation may
cause a coach to play some athletes more than others. Coaches try to develop teams that can be competitive with
other schools.
St.
John’s Athletic Program will function under the Diocesan Sports Policy and
adheres to regulations defined in that document. It will be made available to parents/guardians of athlete
upon request. (Diocesan Policy
6145.2)
Conduct
Student
athletes are expected to conduct themselves in a Christian manner both during
practices and during games. Students
will be held accountable by the established school Conduct & Discipline
Code. Any concerns shall be
directed to the COACH IN CHARGE for resolution.
If the coach reports behavior issues to the principal, consequences
will be determined by both the principal and the coach.
Playing
Time
Game
playing time is based on several objectives that are assessed by the coach of
each team. Some of these
objectives are: attitude, desire, ability, practice habit and scholastic
performances. It is the coaching
staff, as well as the parents’/guardians’ responsibility to help with the
acceptance of competition and fair play.
Hard work, attitude and good behavior will earn the athletes a
favorable amount of playing time and a sense of personal pride as well as team
achievement. Parents/guardians should be aware that their child’s
attitude toward practice and team work, as well as, behavior at practices are
noted when it comes to playing time in a scheduled game.
Regulations
Diocesan
regulation states that parents/guardians and fans attending an athletic event
are not to use abusive language directed at referees, players, fans, and
coaches from any team. They are
to treat all officials and coaches with respect and refrain from criticizing
them during and after games. These
actions reflect on the reputation and name of our school. Those who disregard these guidelines can be asked to leave
the gym or playing field.
Students
who participate in sports are expected to attend practices and cooperate with
the coach. Students who are absent
for more than two hours on any given day
or suspended from school are not allowed to attend a practice or
game that day unless due to a funeral, medical appointment or other
family emergency. (Diocesan
Policy 6145.2)
Role
of Parent/Guardian
The
role of the Parent/guardian is very important to an athlete.
They will need to be supportive, sympathetic, tough,
and participate as chauffeurs, bankers, door admission workers,
scoreboard operators or concession stand workers, in addition to other family
responsibilities. It can, at
times, be very challenging but it can also be very rewarding.
(It is also the responsibility
of the parents to pick up the child/ren immediately following
games/practices.)
THE
POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF PARENT/GUARDIANS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AS FAR AS AN
ATHLETE IS CONCERNED. THE
COACHING STAFF WILL CONSTANTLY BE SUPPORTING PARENTS/GUARDIANS THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR. THE COACHES, HOWEVER, LIKE
TO INITIATE AN AGREEMENT THAT THE PARENTS/GUARDIANS WILL DO THE SAME.
THE PARTIES INVOLVED WILL NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERY DECISION THE
COACHES MAKE, BUT COACHES ARE AT ALL PRACTICES AND GAMES AND MAY HAVE A
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN PARENTS/GUARDIANS.
IF A CHILD OR PARENT/GUARDIAN HAS A CONCERN HE/SHE IS ASKED TO PLEASE
FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES OF PROTOCOL AS THIS IS THE BEST WAY FOR
OPEN
COMMUNICATIONS:
1.
TALK TO THE COACH FIRST. The
parents/guardians in the stands can only sympathize with another
parents’/guardians’ concern. Talking
about the coach or running him/her down behind their back is very
counterproductive. To promote
respect for adults in authority, parents/guardians are not to challenge or
confront the coaches in front of the players.
Emotions sometimes need a “cooling off” period.
AN APPOINTMENT should be made
for the day following the game to get issues out in the open.
2.
If
dissatisfied after speaking with the coach, then make an appointment with the
Athletic Director. It is
very important to talk to someone who knows the situation.
3.
If
the conflict has not been resolved, then make an appointment to see the
Principal. Sometimes a mediator
can do wonders. If deemed
necessary, the issue may need to be placed on the School Board agenda.
Fees
(1)
Each
student is assessed a $35 fee for participation in sports, payable to St.
John’s Athletic Department, and given to the Athletic Director prior to the
first game of the sport being played. Uniforms will not be issued until fees
have been paid.
Eligibility
Grades
will be checked by the principal every two weeks to determine if a student is
experiencing academic troubles. Students
must maintain an overall C average to be able to participate in athletics at
St. John the Baptist School. If a
student is determined to be ineligible because of grades, he will not be
allowed to participate in practices or games until his/her grades are reviewed
again. This will be done one week
after they were deemed ineligible.
TAKE
HOME ENVELOPES
All
students K-8 will be required to have a take-home envelope (provided by St.
John School) that will be sent home to parents/guardians on the last day of
each school week. Please expect
the following:
Oldest Child: Monthly school calendar/monthly lunch
volunteer schedule/weekly newsletter/other school-wide
communications/flyers/order forms
All Students: Certain flyers/forms/teachers’
written communications/graded papers/etc.
Testing programs are chosen and regulated by the
Diocesan Office of Education.
A.C.R.E - Diocesan required tests assessing knowledge
in Catholic doctrine are administered in Grade 5 or 8 in alternate years.
IOWA BASIC SKILLS - test given in the fall of each
year to grades 2-8. The results
are shared with the parents usually by December 1.
Periodically, various diagnostic tests are also
administered. More extensive
testing is available through Perandoe (District #132).
This is a valuable service, which can be obtained upon parent/guardian
request. Ordinarily, the
principal of the school arranges for this service.
Students new to St. John are given placement tests (Grades 2-8) and
readiness tests (Gr. 1)
TRANSPORTATION
Some of the St. John the Baptist School students are
eligible for bus service. Students,
who live in Red Bud School District, may qualify for transportation.
Transportation is provided by the Dehne Bus Company.
Bus rules must be followed at all times.
Riding the bus is a privilege and students may be removed from the bus
if the rules are not obeyed.
WEAPONS
No weapons (knives, guns, arrows, etc) or anything that can be perceived to be used to harm someone may be brought on school property at any time. Toys or look-alikes may not be brought to school either. If necessary, the police will be contacted. Consequences will be determined the pastor and the principal along with the Diocesan Office of Education.