School Hankbook

Dear Parents,

Throughout the years, St. Catherine of Siena School has maintained the mission of the Catholic faith to carry out the vision of our Lord. "Let the children come to me, and so not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these...Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them and blessed them."(Mark 10:14 & 16)

Our goal, at St Catherine School, is to build upon the belief that your child is created in the image and likeness of God. Our dedicated teachers and staff strive to maintain the highest moral values and the best educational opportunities possible. I appreciate the sacrifices that you are making in choosing to make St. Catherine of Siena your community.

Let me assure you that I am pleased to be associated with such a great staff.

With prayers and blessings for the school year!

Rev. Paul D. Montminy

MISSION STATEMENT
St. Catherine of Siena School is an elementary school in the Diocese of Manchester steeped in its Catholic Tradition, striving to instill in our young people the values of faith. Our school exists for the purpose of fostering academic excellence through its comprehensive program and developing a community of faith among faculty, staff and students. Young people are encouraged to acquire knowledge and to deepen their faith in preparation for their future role in the Church and in the world.

PHILOSOPHY OF ST. CATHERINE SCHOOL
"To Teach as Jesus Did" serves as the basis for the philosophy of St. Catherine of Siena School. Our foremost goal is to attempt to meet the individual's needs: moral, socially, educationally, emotionally and, in particular, to develop a sense of responsibility to the Church, to him or herself and to others. In the final analysis, it is hoped that our approach will lead to developing mature Catholic and Christians.

We strive to build a Faith Community which will reach out beyond the walls of the school building to include all people, and to achieve academic excellence. Our most important instrument, in trying to achieve our goal, is the faculty, whose members have a deep sense of the Gospel message of Christ.

SCHOOL ADMISSION POLICY

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: St. Catherine of Siena School welcomes students of any race, sex, religion, color, or ethnic origin to all its programs and activities. The school does not discriminate in its administration of educational policies and scholarships. Parents and guardians are reminded that Catholicism is emphasized in the curriculum.

REGISTRATION: The person responsible for registering a new student must present a copy of the child's birth certificate or baptismal record along with child custody documents when applicable. If the child is transferring from another school, copies of records are also required.

All children must be 4 years of age by September 30th to enter pre-kindergaten,5 years of age by September 30th to enter kindergarten and 6 years of age by September 30th to enter first grade. All other admissions are based on academic readiness.

The prioritization of kindergarten registrations for the coming year is as follows:
1. Families who already have children attending St. Catherine of Siena School.
2. Children of parishioners who have no other children attending St. Catherine of Siena School.
3. All other interested families.

ATTENDANCE Absence from school is detrimental to the student. Medical and dental appointments, except for emergencies, should be scheduled outside of school hours.

School vacations allow students to avail themselves of recreational and educational opportunities. Therefore, the school does not permit an alternative vacation period unless it is specifically approved IN ADVANCE by the principal.

Should a vacation be approved, the student, upon return to school, will make up all work.

All absences should be reported to school between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. If it is known that the student will be absent for more than one day, the information may be given with the initial call. A child should remain home for at least 24 hours after the body temperature has returned to normal.

A WRITTEN EXCUSE FOR THE ABSENCE IS REQUIRED WHEN THE STUDENT RETURNS TO SCHOOL. IT MUST BE SIGNED BY THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

TARDINESS Promptness is a self-discipline taught at St. Catherine of Siena School. Therefore, parents should reinforce this discipline by making sure that their child arrives by 7:40a.m.Tardiness will be recorded on the report card.

OFFICE INFORMATION
Parents who are not at home during the school day must inform the school of the place where they can be reached in an emergency. An emergency telephone numbers are mandatory. To contact St. Catherine of Siena School call 622-1711. All telephone business should be completed before 1:30 p.m.

Generally, parents and students should make arrangements concerning the day's activities BEFORE the child leaves home in the morning. Students may use the phone ONLY for emergencies. Forgotten papers and books are not to be considered as emergencies. Students will NOT be called to the phone except for emergencies. The school administrative secretary/ receptionist will relay any important messages to students.

Any money that is sent to school should be in an envelope that is clearly marked with the student's name, grade and the purpose of the money. This includes payments for the extended day program, fundraiser money, hot lunch money, milk money, etc.

SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS
St. Catherine of Siena School follows the directives of the Manchester Public Schools in matters of school cancellations due to weather conditions. Radio station WGIR 610 AM and WZID 95.7 FM as well as WMUR TV channel 9 provide excellent coverage. Any snow days that occur will be made up at the end of the year.

HEALTH CARE
Chronic health problems (diabetes, epilepsy, serious allergies, etc.) should be reported to the office. Disabilities such as poor eyesight, defective hearing, lack of coordination should also be brought to the attention of the school nurse, principal or teacher.

MEDICATION POLICY
Medication will not be administered during school hours if it is possible to achieve the desired effects by home administration. If, however, medication must be given during school hours it will only be done under the following conditions:
I. The school has a physician's written order that identifies the medication and specifies the procedures for administering the proper dosage.
2. A consent form, obtained from the school office, must be signed by the parent or guardian.
3. All medicine must be in its original container and prescribed medication must have a pharmacy label.
4. All medication must be given to a designated adult (teacher, school nurse, etc.) during school hours.

This policy also applies to over-the-counter medicinal products.

TRANSFER & WITHDRAWAL
The parent or guardian must advise the principal and teacher, at least one week in advance, of a student's withdrawal from St. Catherine of Siena School. This will enable the teacher to secure grades and settle accounts. Parents must sign a release form for transferring student's records. Records will be sent, upon request, directly to the new school once all fees have been paid.

VISITORS
All visitors must ring the bell on the left-hand side of the main entrance and wait to be admitted to the school. For security purposes, upon entering the building all visitors are to sign the book on the table by the elevator.

ARRIVAL, DISMISSAL, AND PARKING
An arrival and dismissal procedure is clearly outlined at the beginning of each school year. It is designed with the safety of the children in mind and must be observed by ALL! During school hours, parking is permitted in the parking lot adjacent to the church. Parents should never park on the playground. The children use this for recess and other activities.

LUNCHES
Hot Lunch is offered daily, Monday through Friday, for a cost of $3.00 per day( No late payments will be accepted). Menus go home in the Wednesday envelope with instructions to order. Students may purchase lunch or bring in their own from home. If a student forgets his/her lunch, he/she will be provided with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, snack and milk. It is not our policy to allow students to call parents to have his/her lunch brought in to school. This helps to encourage individual responsibility. Food from outside vendors such as Burger King are prohibited. Please do not send in cans or bottles of soda. Disciplinary action will be taken for those who do not follow the lunchroom rules.

BUS PROCEDURE
Bus schedules appear in the local paper just prior to the opening of school. Kindergarten students are not permitted to ride the bus. Information regarding the bus schedule is sent to first graders and to all new students.

Proper behavior of the children on the school bus is essential. At the start of the school year, parents should reinforce the following regulations:
1. No loud or boisterous behavior is permitted,
2. Hands, arms, feet, legs and heads must be inside the bus at all times,
3. Children must be seated while the bus is in motion,
4. Upon boarding the bus, children must go directly to their seats,
5. There is to be no crowding or pushing when exiting the bus,
6. Younger children are to sit close to the driver while older students move to the rear of the bus,
7. Fighting and scuffling are not tolerated.
Suspension from bus riding privileges will result from serious infractions of these rules.

DISCIPLINE
Discipline is based on respect for one's self and for others. This fosters a classroom atmosphere where education and learning flourish. Our school goal is to have good discipline at all times. To achieve this goal, parents and the school must work together in forming proper student attitudes. Teachers will communicate with parents when a problem arises with a student who is unable to conform to the rules in the school environment. A discipline committee has developed a demerit system to support and encourage proper behavior from our students.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Inherent with attendance at St. Catherine School is behavior, which demonstrates a student's respect and responsibility for him/herself and others within the school community. This is reflected by cooperation and observance of classroom and school regulations.

Self-discipline is a skill that is reinforced through the assigning of various responsibilities throughout the school day. Courtesy and cooperation toward adults and classmates is expected from all students. Self-discipline is basic to developing self control, character, orderliness and efficiency.

Students are responsible for the proper care of all school property. Books should be covered and taken to and from school in a waterproof carrier. Rolling book bags are not permitted

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Students are responsible for conducting themselves according to the following code:

1. Absolute silence must be maintained during fire drills.
2. Silence is required while entering the school building after recess at all times.
3. Pushing, tripping, or other forms of harassment are prohibited within the building and on the school grounds.
4. Quiet should be maintained in the halls at all times.
5. Students must show respect to the staff, volunteers and their peers. Respect for school property and the belongings of others is also required.
6. CD players,MP3 players, pocket videos, toys, games are not permitted unless authorized by the teachers or the administration.
7. Writing and passing of notes is not permitted.
8.Compliance with classroom rules as established by teachers, tutors, librarians and other school personnel is required.
9. Compliance with the school dress code is required.
10. Compliance wit cafeteria rules is required Eating in the cafeteria is a privilege.
11. Observance of playground rules is required.
12. Students must refrain from the following: a. Assault b. Fighting c. Stealing d. Vandalism e. Classroom disruptions f. Insubordination g. The use and/or possession of drugs or alcohol
13. Any form of violence bullying, verbal or physical harrassment will not be tolerated. All incidences will be reported to the Police department.

PLAYGROUND RULES

1. Students are to play within the designated painted blue lines on the parking lot.
2. Kooshes, jump ropes, four square balls and bean bags are the only playground equipment allowed at recess.
3. Tackle football, keep away, or any other dangerous games are not permitted,
4. Children may not leave the playground without permission,
5. Playground supervisors' directives are to be obeyed,
6. Playing on snow banks, and throwing snowballs are prohibited.

The persons on duty have full authority. They have a procedure to follow it an infraction of the rules occur. If a problem arises and are not settled to the satisfaction of the playground supervisor, the situation will be reported to the teacher or principal for further action.

DETENTIONS
Detention with teacher supervision, will be used according to the guidelines of the demerit system. Detention will last one hour. If a student rides the bus, a one (l) day notice is given. Parents are notified and are responsible for student transportation. This means children will not be permitted to attend the after school program following their detention unless they regularly attend.

TEACHER CONFERENCES
The principal, teachers, and other staff members are pleased to meet with parents to discuss matters pertaining to the welfare and progress of their children. Parents should first discuss any concern with the teachers involved. Please call in advance so conferences can be scheduled. Parents are encouraged to send a note or leave a message for the teacher to return a call. We request that parents avoid calling teachers at home.

HOMEWORK POLICY
The faculty believes, as do most parents, that home study is of value to children. Home study has character building qualities that are important in shaping the child and provides reinforcement as well as an extension of learning opportunities. The approximate daily amount of homework time is as follows:
Grades 1 ..... 20 to 25 minutes
Grades 2 ..... 30 to 35 minutes
Grade 3-4 .....50 minutes
Grade 5 ....... 60 minutes
Grade 6.........80minutes
Parents should encourage their children to take pride in their work. All schoolwork should take priority over sports involvement and other outside activities.

TESTING
Standardized testing is administered in the spring or fall in accordance with Diocesan directive. Midterms and finals will be administered by classroom teachers for grades 2 though 6. Also, Gates - MacGinitie Testing will be administered to students in grades 2 through 6 in the spring

DRESS CODE
The dress code is distributed to parents every spring for the subsequent school year. The dress code will be strictly enforced and parents will be summoned to the school if students are not properly dressed. On days that the students attend Mass and other special days an announcement will be made from the office regarding proper dress code.

BOYS - KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 6
REQUIRED:
Navy or khaki slacks Navy sweater embroidered with school name Navy, white, or light blue polo shirts (long or short sleeve) printed with school name Navy or white cotton crew socks *Navy or khaki walk shorts to be worn in early spring and fall (Dates are to be determined by the administration.)

GIRLS - KINDERGARTEN
REQUIRED: Plaid jumper and white blouse with navy piping Navy sweater embroidered with school name

GIRLS - PRE-FIRST TO GRADE 4
REQUIRED: Plaid jumper and white blouse with navy piping Plaid culottes with white middy blouse and plaid tie Everyone must have a navy sweater embroidered with school name, other sweaters may be white

GIRLS - GRADES 5 AND 6
REQUIRED: Navy wool kilt Navy pullover sweater embroidered with school name White oxford cloth blouse White sweater (optional)

GIRLS - ALL GRADES
REQUIRED: Navy, white, or light blue polo shirts (long or short sleeve) printed with school name White or navy tights, ankle or knee socks OPTIONAL: Navy or khaki slacks Navy or khaki walking shorts to be worn in early spring or fall (Dates are to be determined by the administration.)

BOYS AND GIRLS GYM UNIFORMS
REQUIRED: Navy sweatpants, sweatshirt, navy gym shorts and white knit shirt Shoes-.
GIRLS: Navy, black or white Keds or Docksiders, etc. (no sneakers or shoes with soles that mark up the floor)
BOYS: Docksiders or other appropriate shoes (no sneakers or boots that mark up the floor) Sneakers: White soled sneakers for gym only! Per Sister Janet, ALL pants and shorts MUST be purchased from J.B. Edwards Uniform Co.

TUITION
There are two options for the payment of tuition and fees, full payment or monthly. Monthly payments are handled through the FACTS Management Company. Full payment is due on or before July 5. Prompt payment will assure an even cash flow. It an account falls behind, a meeting with the parent/guardian will be requested to discuss the arrangements necessary to bring the payments up to date. Any outstanding balance at the completion of the school year must be paid prior to the start of the subsequent school year. Student records will not be transferred to another school until the account is current. ANY PAYMENTS SENT TO SCHOOL MUST BE IN ENVELOPES THAT ARE CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE STUDENT'S NAME, GRADE, AND PURPOSE OF THE PAYMENT. This includes payment for tuition, after school program, and any money sent in for fundraisers, milk, hot lunch, etc. DUE TO RECORD KEEPING, SEPARATE CHECKS ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH EVENT.

FUNDRAISING Like all schools, even those financed by tax dollars, money is always in short supply. To help alleviate this problem some very creative and successful fundraising events have been developed by the school and our parent group. Your cooperation and participation in this area is greatly appreciated.

VOLUNTEERING St. Catherine School is enriched by the active participation of the parents. There is a Parent Volunteers Committee. Getting involved is easy. Requests for volunteers are often sent home with your children and sign-up sheets are posted in the classroom at the first school open house. Volunteering is very rewarding and your child will be pleased to have you involved with his/her school. Volunteers are used for the library, field trips, and special lunch days, fundraising etc.

FIELD TRIPS Field trips are first-hand educational experiences that bring additional meaning to the lessons in the classroom. Parents are notified in advance of the time, place, means of transportation and cost. The permission slip provided by the school must be completed in order for a student to participate in a field trip. Teachers comply with established guidelines and rules to ensure the safety and welfare of all students during field trips. Parents are usually needed to assist classroom teachers on field trips and are encouraged to participate whenever possible. Parents who volunteer to chaperone have a responsibility to the students in their care. Therefore, no younger siblings are permitted to attend field trips. All chaperones must provide their own transportation.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES St. Catherine School tries to offer programs that will help our children cope with the problems of society. The following are run by the City of Manchester and are done during school hours:

FIRE SAFETY - The fire department presents a program on fire safety every year to the children. T

DRAMA - Drama students in grade 3 participate in an annual Christmas play. Children in grades 4 perform in the Passion Play. Students in grades 5 and 6 perform in our annual Spring Production

CHORUS-Offered to students in grade 3-6. Students in chorus perform twice a year.

Band-offered to students in grades 3-6.

RAINBOWS FOR ALL GOD'S CHILDREN - This program provides peer support for children who are experiencing a loss in their lives due to death, illness or divorce. The children meet in small groups with a specially trained facilitator to share their feelings. St. Catherine School also offers an After School Program and a Summer Program to assist working parents. The After School Program runs every school day until 5:30 p.m. There is an additional charge for these programs and registration is required in advance.