|
ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINE SCHOOL
Parent – Student
Handbook
2007 - 2008
September, 2007
Dear Parents,
It is my pleasure to welcome you back to a new school year.The faculty and
staff join me in saying we’re happy to have you as part of the St.
Nicholas of Tolentine School Family. We hope this
will be a successful year in educating your children not only in the
academics but also in assisting you to help build in them strong solid
characters and good moral values. We depend on you, the first teachers
of your children, to join with us as we, the
administration, the faculty and staff work together to inspire each
student to achieve these goals.
The pages of this handbook are filled with important information regarding
school policy and procedures. Parents and students
should review the contents together. Please keep it
handy for easy reference.
During the 2007-2008 school year, we look forward to a cooperative and
committed home school partnership. Parent involvement
is encouraged and welcomed Again we welcome you and
your children to our school.
Sincerely in Christ,
Sr. Mary Esther Carsele, M.P.F. Principal
ADMINISTRATION & FACULTY
2007/2008 ADMINISTRATORS:
Pastor: Rev. Nicholas Martorano, OSA
Principal: Sr. Mary Esther Carsele, MPF
Vice-Principal: Sr. Carmela Falcone
Adm. Assistant: Sr. Mary Anne Gardner, MPF
FACULTY
Pre-K Miss Krista Pomante
K-1 Mrs. Janet Smith
K-2 Mrs. Melissa Moscatelli
1-1 Cecelia Rinaldi
1-2 Mr. Michael Snock
2-1 Ms. Stephanie Desiderio
3-1 Mrs. Joann Amorosi
3-2 Mrs. Kim ciavatto
4-1 Ms. Lorinda Fina
4-2 Ms. Rachel Enderle
5-1 Mrs. Joyce Ziemba
5-2 Mrs. Patrica Lafferty
6-1 Mrs. Florence Coley
7-1 Mrs. RoseAnn D'Armi
7-2 Mrs. Patricia Pizzo
8-1 Mrs. Bernadette Grimditch
8-2 Mrs. Vivian Robinson
Italian: Mrs. Irena Lala
Librarian: Sr. Dolores Duffy, OSF
Physical Education Teacher: Mrs. Marie DiStefano
Computer Teacher: Mr. Kenneth Kay
Secretary: Mrs. Diana Severio
School Phone #: 215-468-0353
Convent Phone#: 215-271-1516
Rectory Phone#: 215-463-1326
STUDENT POLICIES
1. As a student of St. Nicholas School, you must obey the school policies
recommended by the administration and faculty. Following these policies
will make for a well-ordered, pleasant and successful academic year.The
policies are listed below. Respect all people, adults as well as your
classmates. Disrespect of another can result in detention or suspension,
depending on the gravity of the act of disrespect.
2. Respect school property, books, and property of others. Books must be
covered. The use of book bags or backpacks is required for Grades K - 8.
3. You cannot enter the school building (unless requested by your teacher)
before 8:10 A.M. and you should not return to school before 12:35 P.M.
if you go home for lunch.
4. The first bell in the morning and afternoon signifies silence and immediate
preparation for instruction.
5. When returning from lunch, you must remain in the area assigned to your
class.
6. Each day before leaving school, your desk and floor area surrounding the
desk must be left in good order.
7. After school hours you must leave the school building and school area
promptly.
8. Voices during school time should never become boisterous or excessively
loud.
9. Quiet should prevail during change of classes, in the school halls and when
going from one activity to another.
10. During fire drills, you must move quickly and quietly.
11. DRESS CODE:
Boy's
The proper uniform must be worn for school and for gym classes. This includes
proper haircuts, not touching the collar for boys and/or shaved heads,
no facial jewelry, no earrings, and no fad bracelets allowed (i.e., gel
bracelets, studded leather bracelets). Boys are not permitted to wear
the Dickie pants. Pants are not to hang from hips or drag on floor.
Pants are to be the proper size and not one, two or three sizes larger,
black belt must be worn as part of the uniform. Solid white shirt
(tucked into pants), with burgundy tie must also be worn.
GIRL's
No facial jewelry permitted; earrings must be of modest size-no more than 1
inch in diameter and no more than 2 earrings per ear; no colored nail
polish (clear polish is allowed); no acrylic nails or tips; one chain
may be worn around neck; no fad bracelets allowed (i.e., gel bracelets,
studded leather bracelets); one simple hair band may be worn (multiple
hair bands not allowed); hair must be natural-no color highlighting of
any kind permitted; uniform must be of modest length; gym uniform must
be worn properly; tight, rolled at the waist pants or shorts are not
permitted.
12. Homework assignments must be accomplished at home and done neatly and
completely.
13. Fighting with peers in school and in the school area is cause for
suspension or expulsion, depending on the gravity of the situation.
14. The eating of candy or chewing gum during school hours or on school
premises are not permitted.
15. Cellular telephones, beepers, pagers, handheld electronic games, personal
CD players and other items that, in the view of the school, may be
distracting or disruptive to the learning environment are not permitted
in the school.
PARENT / STUDENT INFORMATION
SCHOOL HOURS
Grades Pre-K - 8
8:10 A.M. Bell rings. School doors open for students. Students enter
both buildings through the entrance closest to 9th Street
8:20 A.M. First bell. All children must be settled in their classrooms
before the bell rings.
8:22 A.M. Second bell. Anyone entering the building after the second
bell must stop in the office for a tardy slip. If a child is tardy three
times,a detention after school for 1/2 hour will be issued to the child
at fault.
12:00 P.M. Lunch begins.
12:40 P.M. First bell for afternoon sessions. Any student not entering
the building with the class is considered tardy.
2:30 P.M. Pre-K dismissal.
2:40 P.M. Kindergarten dismissal.
2:45 P.M. Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8.
Children should not arrive at the school before 8:00 A.M. or before 12:35 P.M.
The school does not assume responsibility for the children before these
times, even on days of inclement weather.
ATTENDANCE
Absence from school should not be taken lightly and students should only be
absent when truly sick.
Parents are asked to call the school office before 9:00 A.M. whenever a child
is going to be absent. Upon returning to school, the child must present
a written note to the homeroom teacher, marking days missing and
specifying the reason for the absence. The school phone number is
215-468-0353.
Doctor appointments, trips and vacations during school time are strongly
discouraged. If no other arrangements can be made, the child is held
responsible for all the work accomplished during the absence.
If a child is tardy due to unforeseen circumstances, a written note must be
submitted the day of tardiness. Anyone tardy more than twice will not be
considered for perfect attendance.
Children who are habitually tardy must make up the time after school.
EARLY DISMISSALS
No student can be dismissed during school hours without explicit approval from
the Principal. Requests must be made in written form. If a child is ill
and has been granted permission to return home, parents must come to
either the school office or the nurse's office for the student.
LEAVING SCHOOL PREMISES
Students who are staying in school for lunch are not permitted to leave the
school premises for any reason without the explicit permission of the
Principal.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
When weather is inclement and you are not certain if school will be in
session, please listen to the radio. Do not call the school, convent, or
rectory. At times, city schools may open one hour late. This will be
announced on the radio - Station KYW - 1060 AM.
VISITING SCHOOL
Parents must first report to the school office before going to an individual
classroom. When miscellaneous items are forgotten, the office personnel
will deliver them to your child's classroom.
DISCIPLINE
At Nicholas School, we stress respect for authority and for one another.
Important issues include self-discipline, obedience with regard to
school policies and regulations, and interest in academic achievement.
We urge the parents to work together with us in these areas. A student
guilty of fighting, disrespecting a teacher, vulgar language, truancy,
vandalism, smoking, using drugs or other inappropriate conduct is
subject to suspension or expulsion, depending on the gravity of the
situation.
The discipline code applies to students and parents/guardians both in school
and at school sponsored events, as well as in the parish community and
outside the school/parish community where the behavior is contrary to
Catholic teachings or could bring disrepute or embarrassment to the
school.
There are no scheduled detention classes.However, each teacher is free to
detain a child after school if deemed necessary. Parents will be
notified in advance.
HOMEWORK
Assignments are given in order to insure assimilation of the subject matter
taught in class, as well as to provide reinforcement. It should be done
at home with some type of supervision.
It is imperative that each student possess a notebook in which he/she enters
information about the nature of the assignment and the date on which it
is due.
Parents are asked to provide a quiet place free of distractions, and are asked
to supervise and check their child's studies.
MEDICATION
No medication is allowed to be administered by the school unless accompanied
with a note from the doctor's office prescribing the medication.
Arrangements are made through the school office when the nurse is not
available to administer the medication. A form will be sent home by the
school nurse for this purpose. Children may not keep medication on their
person, in their desks, or in their book bags.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Before purchasing supplies, wait for notification from the classroom teacher
as to which supplies will be needed for the school year. You are then
free to purchase these supplies from the School Store or elsewhere. The
School Store is open each day at 8:00 A.M.
UNIFORMS
Girls: Grades K - 8
Maroon jumper
White long or short sleeved blouse
Maroon knee socks
Maroon or dark brown oxford shoes
Boys: Grades K - 8
Black or navy trousers - school style only
White long or short sleeved shirt
Maroon tie
Black belt
Black oxford shoes
Summer Uniforms (optional) September 5th to October 12th and April 14th
to June 13th
Girls: Grades K - 8
Maroon skort
White golf shirt
Maroon knee socks
Boys: Grades K - 8
Black or navy trousers
White golf shirt
Black belt
Children must bring a written explanation from their parents when they are
unable to comply with the school uniform regulations. Consistent
disregard of uniform policies will be referred to the Principal.
If children find it necessary to wear a sweater during school hours, only a
maroon cardigan or sweater vest is permitted. School uniforms may be
purchased from either Boystown/Girlstown, Cramer's on Passyunk Avenue or
from Edie's at 2 nd McKean Street, for your convenience.
Gym Uniforms
Children of Grades K - 8 must wear the prescribed sweatsuit as a gym uniform.
All children must wear sneakers.
School Shoes
The prescribed and accepted school shoes may be purchased from Sammi Shoe Box
or Cramer's on Passyunk Avenue Boys must wear a black oxford and girls a
maroon or brown oxford. Any child who is not wearing the uniform shoe
will be asked to purchase another pair of shoes that conform to the
school policy.
Uniforms must be worn from the first day of school in September.
SCHOOL AGREEMENT 2007 - 2008
The School Agreement distributed at the time of registration/re-registration
states the Spiritual, Disciplinary, Service and Financial
responsibilities of each family. The weekly contribution, which is
mandatory, is both a reminder of your responsibility to attend Sunday
Worship and also to give financial support to your Parish. Refer to and
review this agreement to remind you of your obligation.
NON-PROMOTIONS, TUTORING and SUMMER SCHOOL POLICIES
1. Careful study will be done to evaluate students' learning problems and to
decide if retention is beneficial for these students. This close study
will begin on the primary level, where retention is most beneficial.
2. A student cannot be retained in the same grade for two consecutive years. A
child may be retained once in the primary grades and once in the
intermediate or junior high level.
3. The final decision regarding retention will be a joint decision by both the
teacher and the principal. Parents will be informed in writing of
possible non-promotion by the beginning of the second trimester and each
marking period thereafter. Parents will not be permitted to alter a
decision made by Administration.
Retention Guidelines with Regard to Grades
Grades 1 - 2: U in Reading
Grades 3 - 6: F in two major subjects (Reading Math, English)
Children with frequent absences, children who perform below level, children
who are deficient in a specific subject area, or children who have
demonstrated an apathetic attitude resulting in poor grades must be
tutored by a qualified instructor or be required to attend a Summer
School Program, assuming that retention would not be beneficial to the
individual. If parents do not follow through once a decision has been
made for this special assistance, the parent will be asked to withdraw
the child from St. Nicholas School.
Summer School Guidelines with Regard to Grades
Grades 1 - 8: Students receiving a final grade of U or F in one
major subject or two minor subjects are required to attend summer school.
| 