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Saint Joseph’s School Information Guide
GENERAL DISCIPLINE POLICY
A spirit of Christ-like charity, respect for authority and mutual cooperation are essential elements of the learning environment at Saint Joseph School. Students are expected to act with courtesy and respect toward one another and toward all members of the staff. They must take seriously their obligation to develop lifetime habits of self-control and concern for the well being of others. Home and school work together to help students to learn and live the qualities of responsible behavior and the elements of good citizenship.
A student who chooses to disrupt the good order of the School or to violate a policy or regulation will have to accept the consequences of those irresponsible choices. Appropriate discipline is within the discretion of the Principal. Accountability for uncooperative, disruptive, disrespectful, or unsafe behavior may take any of the following forms: misconduct referrals or warnings; denial of privileges; detention; in-school suspension; out-of-school suspension; or expulsion.
Use, possession, and distribution of controlled dangerous substances (see Policy) actions in and outside of school which violate the law, threaten or cause harm to another, or disrupt or discredit the progress or reputation of the school will not be tolerated. Also, other actions that the administration considers offensive, such as bullying and harassment, are not acceptable.
Such actions or other severe violations of school rules may result in immediate expulsion. If a student persists in violating basic rules of courtesy, consideration, respect, cooperation or safety, a Principal/Parent/Student conference will be scheduled.
All subsequent discipline, counseling, consultation, and corrective measures will be viewed as positive home and school efforts to help the student improve behavior. If these cooperative efforts of parents and school staff prove ineffective, the student will be subject to expulsion, or may be denied re-admittance to the school.
DETENTION
School detention will be held weekly. At the beginning of the school year the detention day will be determined. A prior notice of school detention will be sent home to parents/guardians for their signature. (see Appendix)
Teachers may also issue classroom detentions for the infraction of classroom rules. These detentions will be served at the classroom teacher’s discretion and with notification to the parent/guardian.
Notice(s) of school detention will be sent home in the brown envelope on Thursday for parent’s/guardian’s signatures, which then has to be returned to school by that Monday. The detention will be served on detention day (normally Wednesday) that week.
The following infractions will necessitate a school detention:
If these infractions are not improved after two detentions, then follow-up steps will be taken. A Principal/Parent/Student conference will be scheduled at which time further corrective measures, such as suspension, will be taken.
HEALTH & SAFETY
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Students will be dropped off in the church parking lot. They proceed from the parking lot to the school area where they assemble at 8:00 a.m. All teachers will be present in the yard by 8:00 a.m. Teachers will begin escorting students to the classrooms after prayers. In inclement weather students assemble in the gym, and the same schedule is followed. Students will be considered “late” if they are not on line when the class enters the classroom.
At dismissal parents/guardians meet students in the Church parking lot, where students are released to them. Teachers will escort students of Grades 1-8 to the Church parking lot. For their safety, all students must go directly into their designated vehicles. Cars are to leave the lot with extreme caution. Exit is a right turn on Fort Lee Road.
Pre-kindergarten students are picked up at the school doorway nearest the rectory. Kindergarten students are picked up at the private entrance to the classroom.
HEALTH SERVICES
A nurse is available at the school on a part-time basis. If the nurse is not on duty, an injured or sick child is sent to the office.
Among the services provided by the nurse are eye, hearing and scoliosis screening as well as provisions for Dental Screening.
EMERGENCY CARDS
Emergency cards are kept on file in the Nurse’s office and are updated annually. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school office of any change in phone numbers or emergency contacts.
The emergency contact person(s), indicated on the card, must be able to pick up the child within 15 minutes of notification.
ILLNESS OR INJURY
When a child becomes ill or is seriously injured at school, the parent/guardian will be notified. No child may be sent home by himself/herself. The parent/guardian must come into the building and sign the child out. No child may leave the school without an adult.
No care beyond emergency first aid (defined as the immediate temporary care given in case of an accident or sudden illness) may be given by any school personnel. In an emergency, the Bogota Ambulance Unit will be contacted. An official accident report will be completed by the school.
FIRE DRILLS / EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
In keeping with State Law, fire drills are held twice a month. Teachers also review the fire drill and other emergency procedures with their classes, and these procedures will be practiced twice a year.
VISITORS
For the safety of our children, all visitors (including parents) must report to the School Office, at which time they will “sign in” and be issued a badge to wear while in the school. When leaving, visitors “sign out” and surrender the badge.
STUDENT INSURANCE
Saint Joseph students are covered by the Student and Sport Accident Insurance purchased by the Archdiocese of Newark. In the event that a student is injured when participating in a supervised activity, the Archdiocesan policy will help pay expenses incurred for medical treatment that are in excess of benefits payable under any other insurance covering the student. Claim forms may be obtained from the school nurse or at the rectory office.
SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
New Jersey State Law requires that any person, who has reasonable cause to believe that a child may have been subjected to abuse or neglect, must make a report to the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Saint Joseph Asbestos Management Plan is on file in the school office, as required by the Federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). This document is available for examination upon request.
POLICY ON ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION
Saint Joseph School strongly discourages the administration of either prescription or non-prescription medication in school or on field trips. However, if it is absolutely essential that a student receive medication while under School supervision, the following procedures apply:
Students will be permitted to self-administer medication only for life-threatening illnesses or conditions. The parent/guardian must schedule a conference with the school nurse to discuss in detail the need for the medication. The parent/guardian and the student’s physician must complete and sign an “Authorization for Self-Administration of Medication in School” form. This form is available from the School (See Appendix).
USE, POSSESSION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
Definitions:
Controlled Dangerous Substances are defined in section I through V of the NJ Criminal Code. They include but are not limited to: marijuana, heroin, and anabolic steroids. The term controlled dangerous substance shall also include alcohol.
Under the Influence – a student is judged to be under the influence whenever s/he exhibits physical or physiological symptoms (including but not limited to unsteady walk, dilated pupils, slurred speech, erratic or uncharacteristic emotional reactions) which are commonly associated with the use of controlled dangerous substances.
Possession is defined as knowingly or purposely obtaining or possessing, actively or *constructively, a controlled dangerous substance or drug paraphernalia:
*Constructive possession refers to a student who intends or has the capacity to exercise control over the drug/paraphernalia even is s/he does not have physical possession of the item. For example, who hides drugs on school property or asks a classmate to hold drugs for him/her, constructively possesses the drugs.
Distribution is defined as sharing, selling, or dispensing a controlled dangerous substance:
Possession with Intent to Distribute – applies regardless of whether or not a student intended:
POLICY:
2) Such a student shall be subject to the following provisions and to the general discipline policy stated in the Handbook:
3) A student suspected of violating the policy governing controlled dangerous substances will immediately be placed under suspension for an indefinite period. The student and parents/guardians shall be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegation as quickly as possible.
4) If the principal determines that there:
5) The principal may require the student to participate in an appropriate treatment or counseling program as a condition of the student’s eventual return to the school.
6) When violation of this policy involves “distribution” or “possession with intent to distribute” the discipline imposed will normally be expulsion.
DRESS CODE
The full Summer Uniform (optional) from September to November 1 and April 1 to June consists of:
If this is not adhered to, then your child will be required to wear the regular winter uniform.
The full Regular Uniform consists of:
In addition to the green uniform sweaters, the gym uniform sweatshirt with the school logo (purchased through the school) may be worn for warmth with the regular school uniform. These are the only items permitted to be worn in school.
All uniforms are to be purchased from Flynn & O’Hara which is located in Emerson. There will be no variations in the Dress Code.
GYM UNIFORM
All students grades K-8, wear gym uniforms, which are ordered through the school, to school on gym days. The regulation gym uniform (no exceptions) consists of the following:
ACCESSORY ITEMS
A minimum of jewelry is to be worn. Stud earrings or small hoops may be worn only in girls’ ear lobes. Boys are not permitted to wear earrings. No make-up. Only clear nail polish is permitted. Hats are not to be worn in school. Hair is to be kept well groomed. Boys’ hair is to be conservatively cut; out of the eyes and above the shirt collar. Unusual trends in hair fashions are not permitted for boys or for girls. Student’s hair is not to be dyed. The administration reserves the right to make final decisions in this regard.
SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL TUITION CONTRACT 2008 - 2009
The only reason that Saint Joseph School exists is that it offers our children a solid foundation in the Catholic Faith. However, we cannot possibly attempt to do this without good, strong family example, which includes family prayer and attendance at Sunday Liturgy.
In order to keep tuition low and fair to all, we are going to be very serious in maintaining this contract, which you are about to sign. Failure to comply with the terms stated in order to qualify for the first two categories will automatically result in your being placed in one of the other tuition categories.
PARISHIONER TUITION WITH FULL PARTICIPATION
They understand that they will be charged active parishioner tuition. In order to qualify for this tuition they must:
PARISHIONER FULL PARTICIPATION TUITION FOR 2008 - 2009
10 Monthly Payments from August - May 1st Payment due August 15th - 10th Payment due May 15th
NON-PARISHIONER TUITION WITH FULL PARTICIPATION
Since these parents cannot contribute envelopes to the Parish Church, they cannot fulfill one of the conditions for regular tuition. However, they do want to become involved in Home School projects and do amass 20 points. The Finance Committee, after discussing this topic, agreed on the following: If active non-parishioner parents amass 20 units of service during the course of the year, then their tuition is reduced to an amount between the regular active parishioner rate and the inactive parishioner rate.
ACTIVE NON-PARISHONER PARENT TUITION FOR 2008 - 2009 |