POLICIES

School Hours

8:15 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.

Students report directly to their classroom upon arrival. Closing prayers are at 2:15 p.m. with dismissal immediately following from the Multi-Purpose Room. If you are picking up your child at the end of the day, please report to the Multi-Purpose Room.

Absences

When a child remains at home due to illness, it is necessary that the parent of the child notify the school office in the morning. Direct communication with parents is specifically intended for your child's protection. Upon returning from a day of absence, a completed absence form should be returned to the school office.

Appointments

When a child has a doctor or dentist appointment during the day, please send a note to his/her teacher. Please come into the office to pick-up your child and upon returning, please drop your child off at the office.

No child will be released to anyone other than the parent/guardian unless there is direct communication from the parent/guardian to do so. If the custody or guardianship of the child is in question, please notify the principal.

Attendance

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires your child to attend school on a regular basis. We ask parents to cooperate in carrying out this state regulation.

Calendar/Newsletter

Every month a school calendar is sent home to remind and inform all of you about upcoming events.

We also send home a newsletter every week or every other week. This newsletter includes information about past happenings and upcoming events.

Change of Address/Phone Number

The office should receive written notice immediately of any changes of address and/or phone number so the student record can be kept up to date and for emergency purposes.

Communication

Communication between school and home is of utmost importance. To insure that information reaches home through your child, a large envelope will be sent home weekly (typically Thursday) with your child. Please read all information and return all papers that require a reply as soon as possible and return the envelope to school the next day.

Conferences/IEP Meetings

The teacher or parent may schedule conferences at any time. The following is a timeline for IEP Meetings:

September - Parent input form

October - IEP Meeting

November, February, April, & May - Written progress report on IEP sent home (parent may request a meeting if desired)

End of year conferences - optional

Parents are expected to participate in these meetings. Your input is invaluable when planning and implementing your child's individual program.

Electronic Equipment/Toys

Electronic equipment (walkman, CD player, Gameboy, etc.) is not permitted in school unless the teacher has approved it. Also, please refrain from allowing your child to bring toys into school. These are a distraction and make it difficult for the teacher to focus on more important matters.

Field Trips

A permission slip is sent home for each trip that is scheduled. The parent must always sign and return the form before each trip whether they are attending or not. Verbal permission is not acceptable. If a written permission slip is not turned in, the child may not attend the field trip. Field trips are an important part of our curriculum for student to interact in the community.

Inclement Weather

In case of inclement weather, please check the homepage of our Web site or check the following stations for information on school delays or cancellations:

WEEU AM, radio (830 on your dial)

WRFY FM, radio (102.5 on your dial)

WRAW AM, radio (1340 on your dial)

WPVI, television (Channel 6)

WFMZ, television (Channel 69)

We will have our own announcement on these stations. Any closing or delays will be announced under John Paul II Center. If your home school district's schedule is different than ours, it is your responsibility to get your child to school. Please be alert to early closing in bad weather by following the delay/closing announcement for bus riders for the school district in which you reside. Your child will be dismissed when bus transportation from your district arrives. Someone must be home to receive your child. Those who receive private transportation will be contacted by phone.

Lateness

When a child is late, he/she must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to the school office.

Lunch Program

We currently offer lunch three days a week. Tuesday lunch is prepared by our secondary class. Wednesday is hoagie day and Thursday is pizza day. Menus are sent home weekly.

Medication

Some students are required to take medication during the school day. Please send the medication in the original prescribed bottle with no more than a week's worth of medication. We will administer the medication and keep a log for our records.

Religious Services

Mass will be celebrated monthly. All school Masses are presently being held in the Multi-Purpose Room. Individual class services and Mass will be held in the chapel. Priests from various parishes are asked to celebrate Mass for us.

Penance services are held twice a year during the seasons of Lent and Advent. May procession is held during the month of May. A service is also held in October honoring Mary.

For students that are Catholic, sacramental preparation takes place during the school day under the direction of the student's teacher and religion coordinator.

Sign In/Out Policy

All visitors (volunteers, therapists, observers) must sign in upon entering the building. Before leaving the building, all visitors must sign out.