Welcome to St. Catherine School & Preschool!
This compilation of the Student and Parent Handbook serves as a resource to provide our families with important information about the operation of St. Catherine School. In addition to a brief background on the school’s history, philosophy and mission, the handbook includes the policies and guidelines necessary to create a safe and healthy learning environment for the pursuit of academic excellence.Through these various rules and procedures, our best effort is made to ensure mutual respect and responsibility for actions consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Our focus is on enabling each student to realize his or her individual learning potential in partnership with our teachers, parents and guardians.
While every attempt has been made in this handbook to cover as many areas of concern as possible, the specific rules and procedures herein should not be considered all inclusive. We retain the right to amend the handbook in response to dynamics of daily life at St. Catherine School and Preschool. Parents will be promptly notified of any revisions that may occur throughout the school year.
Our faculty and staff look forward to having you join us in active participation in the spiritual, moral, academic, physical, and social development of our students.
Mrs. Celina Haigh
Principal
Mission Statement
St. Catherine School is committed to providing a Catholic education for the whole child. We recognize parents as primary educators and teachers as facilitators of discovery and learning as students pursue excellence in their spiritual, academic and personal lives.Philosophy
As an educational component of St. Catherine Parish, we provide inspiration and direction for our students in their pursuit of spiritual, academic and personal excellence.History
St. Catherine School opened in 1946 with kindergarten through grade 4 classes. Each year 1 grade was added with the first class graduating in 1952. The school was first staffed by five Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lay teachers were hired as needed in those first years. In 1969 The Sisters of Charity (BVM) pulled out of Hawaii and the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary arrived from the Philippines. Lay teachers continued to work alongside the sisters until June, 2000. Since then school has been staffed entirely by lay teachers. St. Catherine Preschool was added in 1988.School Wide Learning Expectations
A graduate of St. Catherine School is a:Person of faith who
understands the teachings of the Catholic faith,
contributes to the community through service,
respects diversity in God’s creations,
continues to grow spiritually, and
makes moral decisions based on the teachings of the Catholic faith;
Responsible citizen who
appreciates his/her heritage and respects cultural diversity,
is aware of global issues and responds to them appropriately, and
understands civic and community responsibilities;
Collaborative worker who
recognizes and respects individual differences and similarities,
communicates interactively, displaying empathy and consideration of differing ideas,
demonstrates responsibility and flexibility in the support of group needs and goals, and
has a good work ethic;
Curious learner who
analyses, identifies, integrates and applies information,
is able to listen actively, speak clearly, write concisely and correctly,
has essential thinking and problem solving skills,
has developed an appreciation for the fine arts, and
uses technology for learning, communication and enjoyment;
Child with a positive self-image who
is growing in self-esteem and self-confidence,
is self-directed, and
is able to evaluate progress and accept constructive criticism.
General School Information
Office Hours
Office hours for the School office are 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on regular school days. Intersession and summer office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.The school office number is 808-822-4212. E-mail address is scsoffice@st-catherineschool.org. The web site is http://www.st-catherineschool.org.
School Hours
The school day is 7:45a.m. to 2:15 p.m. for kindergarten through grade 8. Preschool hours are 7:30 a.m. through 2:15 p.m. On Wednesdays the school day ends at 1:15 p.m. Please consult the school calendar for half days and school holidays.Coyle Hall is opened and staffed at 7:15 a.m. when students may be dropped off. St. Catherine School cannot assume responsibility for students who are brought to school before 7:15, but students may join morning Mass at St. Catherine Church which begins at 7:00 a.m.
Students must be picked up by 2:30 p.m., 1:30 on Wednesdays. Students remaining after 2:30 and 1:30, respectively, will be sent to After School Care and assessed the appropriate fees.
After School Hours
After School Care is available, for a fee, from the time of dismissal to 5:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required.Students are given adequate time to pack their belongings before the last school bell rings. As a professional courtesy, teachers and staff members will not open any locked classroom doors for students and parents. Please do not put them in an awkward position by asking them to violate this policy.
Morning Assembly
A school wide assembly is held each morning at 7:45 a.m. in Coyle Hall. During this time, positive values are encouraged and students join in prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and general announcements. Teachers are present to ensure respectful and appropriate behavior.School Day Schedule
7:15 Coyle Hall opens7:45 Morning Assembly in Coyle Hal
8:00 - 8:50 1st period
8:55 - 9:45 2nd Period
9:30-9:45 Recess (K - 4)
9:45-10:00 Recess (5 - 8)
10:05 - 10:55 3rd Period
11:00 - 11:50 4th Period
10:55-11:40 Lunch (Pre-K - K)
11:20-12:00 Lunch (1 - 4)
11:50-12:35 Lunch (5 - 8)
12:40 - 1:25 35th Period
1:15 Dismissal (Wednesday)
1:30 - 2:15 6th Period
2:15 Dismissal (Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri)
Visitors
All visitors must report to the school office to sign in and obtain a visitor’s badge. For the safety and security of our students, no one is permitted to go directly to the classroom, cafeteria, or playground. Parents bringing items for their children during school hours are asked to bring the items to the office and not to the classroom.Parking
St. Catherine School has very limited parking. The turn around in front of Coyle Hall is strictly for dropping off and picking up children. Parking in the circle is not allowed, as this creates a traffic problem. Park in designated areas only.Cafeteria
St. Catherine School offers a hot, FDA approved lunch to all students. Soda is not allowed in the cafeteria during lunch. Lunch tickets may be purchased in the office prior to the start of the school day. Families may apply for free or reduced fee lunches at the time of registration or when there is a change in financial circumstances.Volunteers
Volunteers are a vital part of our school. Parents are frequently asked to assist as library aides, classroom assistants, chaperones for field trips and in many other capacities. All help is encouraged and appreciated. Volunteers and visitors must sign in at the office and obtain a visitor’s pass. All occasional and regular volunteers will be asked to sign the Volunteer Agreement and adhere to St. Catherine School Code of Conduct.Admissions and Records
Admissions
St. Catherine School and Preschool does not discriminate in its admission policy on the basis of race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, or disability, if with reasonable accommodation, the individual can function.Age requirements
Preschool: Three years old by December 31Kindergarten: Five years old by December 31
First Grade: Six years old by December 31
Probation
All new students are placed on probation for one quarter. This time period allows the school and parents to evaluate the child in the new setting, wait for any pertinent information on the new student that may be forthcoming, and observe the child’s academic and social adjustment to the school community. If the need presents itself, the probationary period may be extended or reinstated at the discretion of the administration.Refund Policy
No refunds will be given for registration, or fees. Families are required to purchase tuition insurance at the time of registration. This protects the family’s investment should the child be removed from St. Catherine School for any reason.Re-enrollment
A re-enrollment application is required for all students who wish to return to St. Catherine School. With the acceptance to return will be information regarding the tuition, fees, and payment plan options. St. Catherine School reserves the right to accept or reject re-enrollment applications from returning students. Such decisions are based on parental cooperation, student’s academic growth, behavior, and fulfilling financial obligation. No student will be considered enrolled unless all financial obligations have been met and all required forms turned into the school office.Student and parent requirements
Students must have all school forms, a current physical exam, TB test, and all tuition and fees paid in full before the start of school unless other options have been agreed upon. Students and their parent(s) or guardians must also agree to abide by and be governed by our school polices and the Code of Christian Conduct for Parents and Students.Students from divorced or separated families will need to provide a copy of the court decree specifying custodial issues and visitation schedule. We expect all parties to conduct themselves in a cordial and respectful manner when dealing with the student’s issues and while on campus.
St. Catherine School abides by the Buckley Amendment with respect to the rights of non-custodial parents. In the absence of a court order to the contrary, the 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 to be no access to school information, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the court order.
Policies and Procedures
Attendance
Regular attendance is essential to a student’s success in school. Persistent absenteeism and tardiness create a genuine hardship for the student and is regarded as a very serious problem and may affect re-enrollment for the following year.When a student is unable to attend school, parents should call before 8:00 am. Excused absences include illness, accident, or death in the family.
If a student becomes ill at school, he/she reports to the health room. Students with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea will be sent home. Students should not be sent to school if they have had these symptoms within the last 24 hours.
Tardiness
Students arriving after morning assembly should report to the office for a tardy slip. Students who are tardy more than 5 times during the school year will not be considered for perfect attendance awards.Early Releases
Appointments during school hours are discourage as this disrupts the student’s classes. When an early release is necessary, the parent/guardian will sign out the student in the office. A student returning from an appointment must report to the office with a note from the parent/guardian. A student will not be released to anyone without proper written authorization by the parents/guardians.Health Room
The health room is available for the immediate and temporary care of injuries and illnesses that occur during the school day from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm. St. Catherine School does not have a school nurse on staff. However, our secretary, principal, preschool director, and several other staff members are certified in first aid. We will provide first aid care for the injured and care for ill students until they can be picked up.If a child becomes sick while in school, a staff member will determine if the student can return to class. If the child is too ill, has a fever or is vomiting, parents will be called to pick up their child. Due to limited space in the health room, parents must pick up their child(ren) in a timely manner.
Minor accidents will be attended to as necessary by a member of the faculty or staff. Serious accidents are handled immediately. Parents will be notified as soon as possible. If parents or persons specified on the child’s emergency form cannot be reached, the school will make every effort to have the child treated by a physician/hospital.
Medication Policy
Request for Administration of Prescription Medication in School Forms must be completed by the parent and physician for all prescriptive medications. Forms may be obtained from the office, and once completed, will be kept on file throughout the school year. A separate form is necessary for each new prescription. If the student requires medicine and a medication policy form is not on file, the parent may come to the school to administer the medication at the office. Forms for over-the-counter medications (such as Benadryl, Robitussin, Tylenol, etc.) will also be available in the school office (no physician signature is required). These forms may be filled out by a parent/guardian ahead of time giving the office or school staff permission to administer the medication sent from home.The required dose of medication must be sent in a container with the prescription label on it to the office (along with the Request for Administration of Medication in School Form). It is advisable to ask the pharmacist to make an extra bottle with a label for this purpose. Injections will not be given. Only oral or topical medication will be administered. All medications will be administered in the office by the office or school staff. Students are not allowed to carry or administer their own medication.
The policy for administering medication during school hours does NOT apply to activities or events before or after regular school hours (7:45 am to 2:15 pm). If your child requires medication to be administered outside of these hours, or while participating in St. Catherine School extra-curricular functions, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to make arrangements.
Electronic Devises
Pagers, Ipods, GameBoys, MP3 players, etc. - The possession and ussage of such item are banned from school grounds. Students who violate this policy, do so at their own risk. The school administration will not expend energy or time to resolve problems that arise from these banned items being brought to school.Cell Phones - a) may be brought to school but must be kept in the OFF position during school hours; b) may not be used for picture taking; c) may not be used to harass or threatened any persons; d) may not be used for game playing, Internet or e-mail access, gambling or making purchases of any kind.
Those who violate any of the above rules or conditions regarding cell phones may forfeit their privileges of bringing them to school. Offender’s phones will be confiscated and kept until the parent comes in the pick them up.
Field Trips
Field trips are a privilege, not a right, and are designed to aid the students’ educational, cultural, and social growth. Parents will receive notices of field trips in advance of the scheduled trip date and will be asked to sign field trip permission forms. Students will not be able to participate on the field trip with out a signed St. Catherine School permission form. Phone calls and personal handwritten notes will not be accepted in lieu of proper forms. Parent chaperones will be requested as needed.Homework Policy
Homework is assigned as the natural extension of the student’s class work. The amount of homework takes into account the nature of the subject matter and the age and ability of the students. The following schedule will be used as a guide to determine the time allotted for homework each day:1st grade: 10 minutes
2nd grade: 20 minutes
3rd grade: 30 minutes
4th grade: 40 minutes
5th grade: 50 minutes
6th grade: 60 minutes
7th grade: 70 minutes
8th grade: 80 minutes
Homework is not given over holidays and weekends for grades K - 4, nor is it due the first day following vacations or holidays, without the principal’s approval. Students in grades 5 - 8 may be assigned homework over weekends and holidays.
Should a student be absent, please request homework no later than 8:00 am, when calling the health room to indicate the absence. Homework assignments for absent students will be picked up at the office.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are mandatory after the conclusion of the first quarter. Subsequent conferences will be scheduled when dictated by the student’s academic performance or behavior or at the request of the parent or school.Spiritual Programs
Liturgical Services and Observances
Throughout the year St. Catherine School students participate in many liturgical services and observances. All students, regardless of religious affiliation, are expected to participate. During the Lenten season, students from grades 1 - 8 reenact the Stations of the Cross. This moving religious experience is pen to our families and friends.School Mass
A Mass is generally celebrated twice a month, on the first and third Friday at 8:00 a.m. in St. Catherine Church. Dress for School Mass is the formal uniform. Students attend Mass with their classes and are supervised by their teachers. Parents are welcome to join us. See the school calendar for specific Mass schedule.Sacramental Preparation
All students in second grade receive sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist as part of the religion curriculum. The sacraments are administered in each student’s registered parish. Students and their families interested in receiving the sacrament of Baptism should contact the Church office at 822-7900.Dress Code and Grooming Standards
Shoes and Socks
Shoes must be athletic type, predominantly white or black with matching shoelaces. Socks must be white, maroon, or khaki and worn just above the ankles.Shirts
Uniform shirts are maroon or white with the St. Catherine School logo, purchased from Potpourri Uniform Co. for Kindergarten through 6th grade. St. Catherine School t-shirts in maroon or white are available at the school office for grades 7 and 8.Girls Skirts, Jumpers, and Shorts
Kindergarten through 6th grade girls must wear a plaid jumper on Mass days. These must be purchased from Potpourri Uniform Co. Seventh and 8th grade girls must wear a denim or khaki skirt on Mass days. Skirts and jumpers must be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee when kneeling.On days when Mass is not attended, kindergarten - 6th grade girls may also wear khaki shorts or slacks. Seventh and 8th grade girls may wear denim shorts or slacks when Mass is not attended. These should be well fitting, free from stains or holes. Shorts should be no shorter than school uniform shorts.
Boys Pants and Shorts
Khaki shorts and slacks must be purchased from Potpourri Uniform Co. for grades K - 6. Denim shorts or slacks may be worn by boys in 7th and 8th grade. These must be well fitting free from stain or holes. Long slacks must be worn by all boys on Mass days.Outer Wear
Jackets, cardigans, and sweatshirts with St. Catherine School logo can be purchased from Potpourri Uniform Co. Non-uniform outer wear is not a part of the St. Catherine School uniform.Uniform Care
Uniforms must be clean and properly maintained when worn to class. Stained, dirty, torn, or faded uniforms are unacceptable an will result in the issuance of a Dress Code Infraction Notice.Free Dress Days
Free dress days are a privilege and given at the discretion of the administration. Appropriate free dress reflects modesty and personal pride. Ill fitting, torn, frayed, or stained clothing is not allowed. Shorts and skirts length will conform with uniform standards. Midriffs must be covered, and spaghetti straps or low cut tops are not acceptable. Athletic shoes and crew socks must be worn.Grooming
Hair: Students hair must be neat and clean. Highlighting or hair coloring is not acceptable. Extreme hairstyles, as determined by the administration, are not allowed. Boy’s hair must be kept at a length well above the shirt collar and must not fall over the eyes.Jewelry: Students are discouraged from wearing jewelry due to the risk of losing pieces. However, girls (not boys) are allowed to wear a single pair of earrings - stud or small hoop. A wristwatch or simple necklace is permitted. The school accepts no responsibility for lost jewelry.
Makeup and Nails: Neither makeup nor nail polish are acceptable at anytime during the school day. Nails should be kept closely trimmed to the fingertip. Rule of thumb: when looking at the palm of the hand, the nail tip should not be seen.
Disciplinary Policy
Discipline Guidelines
The discipline policy that is implemented at St. Catherine School is guided by Christian values of proper behavior. Each student needs to understand that he/she will refrain from conduct unbecoming to a Christian student. Harassment, either verbal or physical will not be tolerated. Every student is expected to comply with the rules and regulations of the school. Students are not to bring toys, radios, cell phones, pagers or CD players to school.Basic rules:
Be kind
Show respect for self and others
Be willing to listen
Keep hands and feet to self at all times
Follow school policies
Disciplinary action consists of reminders or reprimands, warnings, suspensions, and dismissals.