Student Parent Handbook

Transcription

1 Student Parent Handbook

2 Table of Contents I. GROUNDING IN FAITH.. p. 2 II. MISSION STATEMENT p. 3 III. SPM PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS. p. 4 IV. ACADEMICS.. p. 5 V. ATTENDANCE p. 11 VI. DRESS CODE.. p. 14 VII. DISCIPLINE.. p. 16 VIII. STUDENT RULES AND REGULATIONS p. 19 IX. SAFETY p. 22 X. FACILITIES p. 23 XI. COMMUNITY STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. p. 26 XII. TECHNOLOGY.. p. 31 XIII. GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT p. 36 XIV. CAMPUS MINISTRY. p. 38 XV. HEALTH OFFICE.. p. 38 XVI. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY. P. 39 XVII. ATHLETICS. p. 40 XVIII. RIGHTS OF ADMINISTRATION. p. 42 1

3 COMMUNITY POLICIES AND REGULATIONS I. GROUNDING IN FAITH Pope Francis addressed Catholic school students by providing a vision that correlates with the framework of St. Peter Marian s approach to learning. Consider these words: School is one of the educational environments where one grows by learning how to live, this means having a big heart, having a greatness of soul. It means having grand ideals, the desire to achieve great things in response to what God asks of us and, precisely because of this, doing everyday things, all our daily actions, commitments, and meetings with people. It means doing the little everyday things with a big heart that is open to God and to others. School broadens not only your intellectual dimension, but also the human one. I think that Catholic schools in particular are careful to develop the human virtues: loyalty, respect, and commitment. I would like to focus on two fundamental values: freedom and service. Before all else be free persons! Freedom means knowing how to reflect on what we do, knowing how to evaluate which are the behaviors that make us grow. It means always choosing the good. Being free to always choose the good is challenging, but it will make you persons with a backbone, who know how to face life, courageous and patient persons. The second word is service. In your schools you participate in various activities that prepare you not to be wrapped up in yourselves or in your own little world, but to open yourselves to others, especially to the poorest and most in need, to work to improve the world we live in. Spiritual formation is the requirement for all this. Always love Jesus Christ more and more! Our lives are a response to his call and you will be happy and will build your lives well if you know how to answer that call. Feel the Lord s presence in your lives. Pope Francis Address to Catholic Schools in Italy and Albania, June 7, 2013 Our mission at St. Peter Marian, rooted in nine decades of Catholic education, is to help prepare our students to be leaders through a commitment to our core values of academics, faith formation, and service to others. Our identity as a Catholic school means that we expect our students to conduct themselves in a way that reflects these values. The purpose of our Parent/Student Handbook is to cultivate an environment that stresses the individual growth of students in a community that emphasizes learning, respect, dignity, and social justice. For us, school is a sacred place where morals are developed. We believe the St. Peter Marian community encompasses students, faculty, administrators, parents, support staff, and coaches. With students and parents fully supporting our discipline code and academic standards, the SPM experience is a special one. It is the privilege and responsibility of students to take advantage of all that is offered at SPM. In this way, St. Peter Marian will serve them as an effective institution of Christian education. St. Peter Marian is a Central Catholic High School and conforms to all policies and procedures set forth by the Catholic Schools Office and the Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester. As such, the faculty, staff and administration of St. Peter Marian is dedicated to this vocation to teach in the Roman Catholic tradition. The registration of a student at St. Peter Marian is an expressed agreement on his/her part and the part of his/her parents or guardian to observe our procedural norms. The Office of Student Affairs, more specifically the Assistant Principal for Students Affairs is responsible for the ordinary administration of the community regulations and all that they involve on a daily basis. We welcome you to the Guardian family. We have been preparing students for college for almost a century. More importantly we have been guiding them to lead faith-filled lives. Please read this handbook very carefully and refer to it often as it outlines our norms, expectations, and hopes for our students. Ad Deum per sapientiam To God through wisdom. 2

4 II. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the community of St. Peter Marian Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School is to encourage each student to become a responsible, respectful member of the human community in the Roman Catholic tradition as espoused by the shared values of our founding orders, the Sisters of St. Joseph and Sisters of Mercy: faith formation, academic excellence, and commitment to service. Core Values To expose students to humanity s rich heritage of faith, ideas, arts and sciences while fostering student s love of learning. To motivate students to embrace the divine in all life. To help students mature in their abilities to make responsible decisions based upon basic moral principles and Gospel values. To challenge students to work toward a more just and peaceful world. To foster within students stewardship and a respect for all God s creations. To enable our students to use their God given talents generously in carrying out the works of mercy To develop students social conscience through community service. To encourage our students to actively engage in reconciliation with one another and with God. To prepare students to think critically and to use their talents and gifts to make a Christian impact in an increasingly diverse world. To challenge students to aspire to excellence in academics, athletics, and extra-curricular endeavors. To strengthen a good-faith reciprocal relationship between administration, faculty, staff and families for the good of the entire community. Accreditation St. Peter-Marian is accredited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., a non-governmental, nationally recognized organization whose affiliated institutions include elementary schools through collegiate institutions offering postgraduate instruction. NEASC Accreditation is a system of accountability that is ongoing, voluntary, and comprehensive in scope. It respects differences in institutional populations, missions, and cultures, and fosters institutional change grounded in the judgment of practicing educators. It is based on standards which are developed and regularly reviewed by the members and which define the characteristics of good schools and colleges. Accreditation of an institution by NEASC indicates that it meets or exceeds NEASC Standards and criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer group review process. An accredited school is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Inquiries regarding the status of an institution s accreditation by the New England Association should be directed to the administrative staff of the school or college. Individuals may also contact the Association: NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA

5 III. SPM PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS "Here is where Catholic and other schools based on a religious foundation have an advantage. The community and its central institution, the church, provide the social capital which can give the school staff and the family the support necessary to discourage youth in their care from merely taking the easiest path in high school." -James S. Coleman's article, "Social Capital and the Development of Youth" in Momentum, November, 1987 We welcome you as members of our community. Your child s education does not begin and end within our building. When parents and staff work together as a team, the child s chances for success and level of confidence improve greatly. Enrollment of your child at St. Peter Marian invites a partnership between the school and the parent. In the spirit of open communication, we would like to share the following: Communicate with SPM when you have questions or concerns. Support the decisions of the school community. When your child is going to be absent, call the school at ext. 13 or ext. 0 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. to notify us of his/her absence. Conduct yourself with dignity and decorum at all athletic, social, and academic events sponsored by SPM. Discuss disputes in a polite and calm manner, at the appropriate time, with the appropriate person. Volunteer for fund-raisers and other school activities that benefit your school. Your caring presence speaks volumes to your children, of how highly you value his/her school and learning. Pay your tuition on time. These funds are needed monthly to pay our operating expenses, such as teacher salaries, building maintenance, educational supplies, etc. Your cooperation in this area is both expected and appreciated. Also, see the Diocese of Worcester Catholic Schools Office for policies and procedures: or In the case of inclement weather, please DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL. Listen to the radio (AM-WTAG, FM- WSRS) or TV stations Channel 4 (CBS Boston, WBZ), Channel 5 (WCVB), or Channel 7 (WHDH) for announcements affecting the Worcester Public Schools (calling the school compromises safety as phone lines are needlessly tied up). Follow our community by visiting and be knowledgeable of important community events. It is especially helpful to visit our calendar page. Provide us with the necessary and up-to-date contact information (Home, business, and mobile phone numbers, mailing addresses, and addresses) so that we can reach you in case of emergencies, to share information, such as newsletters, announcements, progress reports, and report cards. This is of vital importance. Following these guidelines will help you better perform in your role as a parent, while you guide your child during his/her education. A. PARENT GUIDELINES The best way for parents to communicate with teachers is through . The address of a teacher is the last name, followed by the first letter of the first name, followed (Example: Pete Jones is jonesp@spmguardians.org). You may also use the Faculty Directory on our website. Parents should expect a response within 48 hours to an received by a teacher during calendar dates in which school is in session. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours please contact the Principal. We have instructed our Faculty to use the school s Edline account and for general information such as class activities, curriculum, assignments, tests, deadlines, special events, or follow-up to an issue that has been previously discussed. Our Faculty will not discuss other students, or other staff members in their s. Issues of a confidential nature should be directed to the student s Guidance Counselor or to Administration. 4

6 B. PARENTAL CONCERNS If you should have a concern with one of your child s classes, the teacher of that class should be contacted first. Very often, both teacher and parent are enlightened from such communication, and can work together in the best interests of the student. Contacting your child s Guidance Counselor is also a very helpful way to seek assistance. If an initial parent-teacher meeting does not resolve your concerns the Administration will be happy to facilitate additional meetings. Academic issues should be directed to the Principal and student conduct issues should be directed to the Assistant Principal for Student Affairs. C. STUDENT TRANSCRIPT RELEASE INFORMATION School policy permits the sending of official transcripts of students from institution to institution. Students requesting transcripts should sign a transcript release form and leave it with the Guidance Counselor. Also, non-custodial parents will be given access to academic records and to information regarding the academic progress of their children, unless there is a court order specifically stating the non-custodial parent is denied access to such information. Parents in possession of such court orders must file them with Guidance on an annual basis. We cannot honor any verbal requests to release or restrict access to family members (FERPA, M.G.L. Ch.71, 34 H; 603 CMR 23.00). For more information please seek your student s Guidance Counselor. D. PARENT BOARD The Consultative School Board of St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School is a voluntary consultative board established to assist the Headmaster and School Administration, by providing advice and counsel concerning: Strategic Planning, Policy Development, Evaluation of Policies, Plans and Mission Effectiveness and Communications and Outreach. In addition, the Parent Board facilitates functions such as Open House, Shopping Day, Parent Social, New Parent Orientation, and Career Day. We welcome any new ideas, comments, or feedback you may have to better your family s Community Experience here at SPM. Please feel free to contact co-chairs Meg Mulhern or Kelly Forss at any time. A link to their contact information is available on the Parent Board page of the school website. IV. ACADEMICS Intellectual charity calls the educator to recognize that the profound responsibility to lead the young to truth is nothing less than an act of love. Indeed, the dignity of education lies in fostering the true perfection and happiness of those to be educated. Pope Benedict XIV Address to Catholic Educators 2008 A. ACADEMIC YEAR The academic year is divided into four quarters, with offerings for full year and semester courses. 1st Quarter ends November 8 th, 2 nd Quarter January 14 th, 3 rd Quarter ends April 4, and 4 th Quarter on last day of school. FULL YEAR COURSES: Each quarter is worth twenty percent of Final Grade. A mid-year and final examination will be administered in each full year course. Each of these examinations is worth ten percent of the student s Final Grade. 5

7 Numerical grades are used to record a student s grade. A 65 average is required to pass a course. A grade of 55 is the lowest numerical average a teacher may assign for the first and second quarters. This policy however does not apply for the third and fourth quarters or the mid-year and final examination grades. A student who passes a Full Year Course earns 1 credit. SEMESTER COURSES: Each quarter is worth 40 percent of Final Grade. A Semester Course requires only a final examination and these examinations will be worth twenty percent of the student s Final Grade. Numerical grades are used to record a student s grade. A 65 average is required to pass a course. A grade of 55 is the lowest numerical average a teacher may assign in the first quarter of a Fall Semester Course and the third quarter of a Spring Semester Course. This policy does not apply to the second quarter of a Fall Semester Course, the fourth quarter of a Spring Semester Course, or Final Examinations. A student who passes a Semester Course earns 0.5 credit. All examinations are ninety minutes in length. All students take these examinations there are no exemptions. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS NO MID-YEAR OR FINAL EXAMINATIONS WILL BE GIVEN EARLY FOR ANY REASON. THERE WILL BE A $50 FEE FOR EACH EXAM CHARGED FOR ADMINISTERING EXAMS LATE. PLEASE SEE THE CALENDAR TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY. IT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT B. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS The basic Academic Requirements for graduation from St. Peter Marian are as follows: High School Junior High Religion 4 Credits English 4 Credits Mathematics 4 Credits Foreign Language 2 Credits Science 4 Credits Social Studies 3 Credits (½ credit must be Am. Govt.) Electives 2.5 Credits Computer.5 Credit Total 24 Credits Religion 2 Credits English 2 Credits Mathematics 2 Credits Foreign Language 2 Credits Science 2 Credits Social Studies 2 Credits Electives 2 Credits Total 14 Credits 6

8 C. SCHEDULING AND COURSE SELECTION New students come from diverse schools whose academic grading systems differ greatly. All new students take the same Placement Test, giving us a common denominator to assess each student s abilities and achievement. The Placement Test is a normative-based assessment and ranks students of the same grade across the nation by percentage. It compares how students compare to each other and creates a predictive correlation to academic success. The results of this test are used to determine the starting level for the students. Level changes will occur based on academic performance, teacher recommendations and availability of space. DROPPING/ADDING COURSES All Drop/Adds are handled through Guidance. All Drop/Adds need to be completed within the first two weeks of the semester All Level Changes must be completed by the end of the first quarter. After that time, all level changes must be approved by Administration. Classes are not changed based on teacher preference. D. Descriptions of Academic Levels Dual Enrollment College Courses Students who have completed all levels of a core curriculum subject may, with the permission of the College Counselor, enroll in an Assumption College course in our Dual Enrollment Program. An Assumption College course is equivalent to 3 credits at the college level. They will receive 1 Honors credit on their SPM transcript. Advanced Placement This program is a nationally recognized curriculum of study. Students apply for these courses with their respective teachers. Students gain entrance based on a strong academic record and teacher recommendations. A typical Advanced Placement student must be able to work independently and be highly motivated. Students who take these courses must take the national examinations given in May. Honors An accelerated course of studies for students of superior ability and achievement who have successfully completed the perquisite courses for this level. Accelerated College Preparatory An accelerated college preparatory program for students of above average ability and achievement. College Preparatory A college preparatory program for students of average ability and achievement with the intent of meeting basic requirements for admissions to college. E. TEXTBOOKS All students must purchase textbooks and workbooks through our Virtual Bookstore. St. Peter-Marian is introducing a new virtual bookstore option for The SPM Follett Virtual Bookstore URL is: Please use this link to purchase books. The website will be launching on July 15th with a free shipping promotion running from then through July 21st. Follett will also offer a rental option. Books are also available at myschoolbookstore.com 7

9 ALL CONSUMEABLE WORKBOOKS MUST BE PURCHASED NEW. USED CONSUMEABLE WORKBOOKS WILL BE CONFISCATED AND GIVEN TO THE PRINCIPAL. F. SYLLABUS/COURSE REQUIREMENT SHEETS Teachers will distribute expectations for their courses. This will explain the content that will be covered, the books necessary for the class, the supplies needed, the grading system used, homework and disciplinary policies. G. INTERIM REPORTS AND REPORT CARDS Interim Grade Reports are issued halfway through each quarter. These reports list a grade range for each class which allows a student to determine where they might need to seek help. These reports are to be signed by the parent/guardian and returned to the student s homeroom teacher. Report cards are issued at the end of each quarter. They should be signed and returned to the student s homeroom teacher. A ConnectEd message is sent to parents the days that Interims and Report Cards are issued. H. INCOMPLETE GRADES All incomplete grades must be made up within ten school days from the close of the quarter or they will automatically be recorded as a failure. Administration reserves the right to extend this time period based on individual circumstances. Students who have two or more incompletes are ineligible to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities until the grades are complete. I. HONOR ROLL An honor roll will be published through local media outlets at the end of each ten-week quarter. Students who have maintained a 90 or higher average in each of their courses receive High Honor. Students who have maintained an 80 or higher in each of their courses receive Honors. The Honor Roll is also published and prominently displayed in our building and online at our website: J. PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled each year at the end of the first quarter. Parents are encouraged to attend these conferences. However, should your schedule not permit your attendance please contact Guidance to make arrangements for an alternate conference. For the exact date see our calendar page on our school website. K. HOMEWORK PHILOSOPHY We believe homework is an extension of the school day. Each of our teachers uses homework to preview, reinforce and review valuable classroom content. As it is an integral part of the curriculum, it is in many instances an integral part of the student s grade. MISSING HOMEWORK POLICY It is our intent to prepare students to take personal responsibility as they prepare for college. Students who miss homework face the following consequences. Grades 7 through Teacher detention with a 24 hour notice 2. Student makes up the missed work in the detention and is given zero credit 3. A chronic offender is referred to the Principal 8

10 L. ACADEMIC PROBATION A student is placed on Academic Probation if the student: 1. Fails two or more subjects 2. Fails one subject and has a grade of incomplete in another subject A student who is on Academic Probation: 1. relinquishes all leadership roles such as class officer, student council representative or team captain 2. is unable to participate in any extracurricular activities such as sports, drama, or clubs. The probationary period is for a full quarter and will end when the student fails less than two subjects. M. FAILURE FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND SUMMER SCHOOL Students whose overall Final Average is below a 55 are not eligible for summer school. Students whose Final Averages fall between 55 and 64 are required to complete summer school. Summer school is held each year at Saint Peter Marian for both high school and junior high school students. The grades of the students attending summer school classes are not changed on their official transcripts. However, they are issued credit for the course with a PASS. This will help them achieve the necessary credits they need to graduate. Please note: No student will return to SPM unless these failed courses have been made up in summer school. Failure to do so will necessitate their transfer. Any student who fails three or more courses will be asked to leave the school. ***The Principal may use her professional judgment to waive this rule for seventh grade students, provided these students have no disciplinary issues. N. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY St. Peter Marian aims to educate students in the rigorous tradition of Catholic education by pushing students to actively pursue the truth. Ideally, SPM students are engaged in their own learning, producing original scholarship that is reflective of their God-given potential. Academic integrity benefits the community and individuals. Students should feel a source of pride and happiness when they achieve academic success. When students cheat they betray the community by effecting class rank, but more importantly they betray themselves and lose confidence in their ability to produce their own work. Therefore, the school is determined to maintain the highest levels of academic honesty that demonstrate the ideals that are cherished by this community. Students should embrace a code of honor and take pride in their own academic work, never submitting anyone else s as their own. Violations of this academic code of honor include, but are not limited to: Cheating: An immoral way of gaining an advantage, usually in the form of peeking at someone s test, copying someone s homework, or obtaining a test/research paper given during a previous year. Falsification: Inventing or falsifying evidence. Examples include pretending to do certain steps in a lab assignment, or making references to sources you did not use in a research paper. 9

11 Aiding and Abetting Academic Dishonesty: Providing another student with the means to commit an act of academic dishonesty. This would include giving someone a paper, test, or homework to copy from or allowing someone to cheat from your test paper. Plagiarism: The wrongful use of someone else s words, thoughts, or ideas from a textbook, newspaper, internet source, or magazine, without proper citation. Plagiarism may be the cutting and pasting of paragraphs, but it could also refer to making only minor word changes from someone else s paper, to summarizing without acknowledging a source. Forgery: The process of making, copying, or producing documents to deceive a teacher or parent. An example would be signing a parent s name to a test, or showing a parent a fake/altered report card. Electronic Dishonesty: Using network access inappropriately in a way that affects a class or other students academic work. Examples include using someone else s computer account, breaking into someone else s files, or using material from a school or flash drive. Unauthorized Use of Calculators/Computers: - Concealing or using calculator programs, or computer programs and/or data in a manner not approved by the teacher. Academic dishonesty is a form of theft of intellectual property. It has no place in our school. Anyone found guilty of the violations listed above, or helping someone to violate the honor code, will be subject to the following: 1. Academic dishonesty will be determined solely by teachers. 2. Teachers will refer the matter to the Principal with evidence of the offense. 3. The teacher may or may not decide to give credit for this assignment. The Principal will meet with student(s) involved in the matter. Students will be afforded an opportunity to explain their actions. 4. Forgiveness is central to the Roman Catholic faith. However, forgiveness requires taking responsibility for one s actions and taking the opportunity to reconcile with someone who has been hurt by your actions. Also, we recognize that mistakes can be made. Therefore our approach to discipline for academic dishonesty is educational: a. For the first offense, students will write a reflection paper about their academic dishonesty, to be completed during an office detention, which they will submit and later use to discuss their experience with both the teacher in the class where the infraction occurred and the Principal. b. An in-school suspension and parent conference will be held for the second offense. c. A referral to the Headmaster for possible expulsion will be made for the third offense. Students who report themselves to the principal prior to being referred by a teacher will be treated with leniency for a first offense. O. STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES St. Peter Marian Junior-Senior High School has implemented a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with a history of readying students for some of the country s most prestigious institutions. Although we accept students with moderate learning disabilities, we may not be able to implement all recommendations in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Therefore parents are encouraged to communicate with the Guidance Department and the Principal so we can understand their son/daughter s particular learning style. The following list serves only as an example of the student support services that have been offered to students with professionally documented and current learning disabilities and as the result of parent meetings with Guidance: 1. Extended time for exams (one and one-half times the time allotted) 2. Quiet areas for test taking 3. Permission to use a lap-top computer in the classroom for note-taking and in-class assignments 4. Permission to use an audio recording/enhancing device to record/hear lectures 10

12 5. Preferential classroom seating as needed 6. Peer tutors 7. Extra help by teachers V. ATTENDANCE Catholic schools have a lower dropout rate (3.4 percent) than both public (14.4 percent) and other private schools (11.9 percent). Ninetynine percent of Catholic high school students graduate, and 97 percent go on to some form of post-secondary education. Catholic school students continue to score well on standardized tests (such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress) in subjects such as reading, mathematics, social studies, and science, often surpassing standards established by federal and/or state agencies -United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium, 2005 Students are given the privilege to arrive and remain on campus according to the requirements of their schedules and transportation needs. Students need not arrive until the homeroom period and they may leave after their final class of the day. The school is open to students who are not participating in extracurricular activities at 6:45 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. Parents should make arrangements for their students based on this schedule. From the time of their arrival in the morning, students are not permitted to leave campus or return to their cars. Students may only leave campus or return to their cars upon the completion of their last class of the day. Only in emergencies will the Assistant Principal for Student Affairs grant students the permission, after speaking to parents/guardian, to leave the campus or have access to their cars. Students are ineligible to participate in or to attend an athletic contest/practice or any co-curricular activity if they have not arrived at school by 8:00 a.m. on the day of an event unless they have received prior permission from the Assistant Principal for a reasonable need, such as a doctor s appointment. Documentation will be required on the day of the appointment. A. ABSENCE Student s attendance in class is an integral part of the learning process. We uphold the Mandatory School Attendance Law and we expect our students to be on time and in class each school day. Their presence is necessary for the academic, social and spiritual growth of the community. Administration has the sole right to determine what constitutes an unexcused absence or tardy. A high school student who has any combination of five or more UNEXCUSED Tardy/Absences per quarter will have five points deducted from each of their quarter grades. Diocesan Policy states students cannot be absent more than fourteen times per year. Should a student be absent more than fourteen times they may lose academic credit. High School Students who are absent more than fourteen times will lose credit for their courses and will be placed on an Attendance Contract. If a vast improvement is shown then their credit will be reinstated. If no improvement is shown the student will be asked to leave the school. Whenever a student is absent from school, his parent or guardian must call the absentee number at Ext. 13 or Ext. 0 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the absence to notify us. Messages may be left on the voice mail line. Upon returning to school after an absence, the student must report to the Main Office and submit a signed handwritten note from a parent or guardian (in the parent or guardian s handwriting) explaining the reason for his absence, even though the parent or guardian has called the school on the day of the absence. Failure to call to the 11

13 Main Office on the day of the absence or to provide an absent note on the day the student returns to school will result in a detention to be served on the day the student returns to school. Students who miss school or miss classes due to an early dismissal or late arrival for a medical appointment should bring a note of confirmation from the doctor s office the next school day. We do not accept notes from medical personnel after this 24-hour period. Make certain to obtain a note at the doctor s office. When a student is absent, he/she is responsible for his/her homework assignments. He/she should check each teacher s Edline account, contact another student or the teacher so that he/she remains current with his/her school work. Once a student returns, he/she should meet each teacher at the beginning of each period, prior to the bell, to find out what was missed throughout the day of his/her absence and to reschedule tests/quizzes. TRUANCY A student is considered truant if the student is absent from school without parental knowledge. Upon return to school the student will face disciplinary sanction, usually in the form of an in-house suspension and Saturday detention. All schoolwork they missed due to the truancy and the suspension will be given a grade of 55. In addition, the student may be placed on Disciplinary Probation. A second offense will result in a recommendation by the Assistant Principal of Student Affairs to the Headmaster for the expulsion of the repeat offender. Please note by law students who are truant more than ten consecutive school days must be reported to Massachusetts state authorities (M.G.L. Ch. 76, 1, 1A, 19; M.G.L. Ch. 119, 51A). B. TARDINESS The school day begins at 7:20 a.m. Students are expected to be in homeroom for the beginning of our day with prayer. Students will not be allowed to enter their first period class after the first period class has begun at 7:40 a.m. They will report to the Office of Student Affairs for this class. We cannot have the majority of the students interrupted by a minority who continually comes to school late. If a student is tardy, he/she is to report directly to the Main Office and present a signed handwritten note from a parent or guardian (in the parent or guardian s handwriting) to obtain to an admission slip. This slip must be presented to the teacher of the class he enters. Depending on the reason for the tardiness, a detention may or may not be applied. Any student arriving late without a note from a parent will receive a detention. Any student who has an activity on a school night, regardless of how late the event or competition runs, is expected to be at school on time the next morning. Consistent tardiness will result in Saturday detention and a meeting with parents/guardian. C. DISMISSAL If a student requests a dismissal, he/she must report to the Main Office with a note in his/her parent or guardian s handwriting the morning of the dismissal and obtain a dismissal pass. This pass should be shown to the teacher from the class from which he/she will be dismissed at the beginning of the class period. The student should then go the Main Office, confirm that he/she is leaving for the day, and sign out. The student is responsible for any missed assignments from any classes from which he/she was dismissed or from any classes that met after the dismissal. If a student is being dismissed for an athletic event, he/she is to inform the teacher from the class from which he/she will be dismissed at the beginning of the class period and is responsible for any assignments. He/she should also inform teachers of classes that meet after the dismissal and is responsible for any missed assignments. 12

14 Student Dismissal should always go through the Main Office and/or the nurses. Neither cell phones nor ipads should ever be used to call, text, , or otherwise contact a student s parent(s) or guardian(s) to request pickup in the middle of the school day; dismissal due to illness is the exclusive purview of the nurse. D. CLASS ATTENDANCE If a student is not in his/her scheduled class when the class meets and does not have an excused absence or dismissal, then his/her attendance will be recorded as a missed class. All students who miss a class (or classes) in this manner will face disciplinary sanctions to be determined by the Assistant Principal, which usually includes either an in-house suspension or a Saturday detention. A student who has a missed class (unexcused) will receive a grade of 55 for any work due during that class. E. FACULTY ABSENCE If a teacher has not arrived for the beginning of class, students are to remain in the classroom. After waiting for five minutes, one student should report to and inform the Office of Student Affairs or the Main Office of the teacher s name and class, then return to class. The Assistant Principal (or another administrator) will go the class and instruct the students what to do. F. FUNERAL ATTENDANCE When a death occurs within the immediate family of a student, the school will determine representatives from the student body who have a special relationship with the family to attend the funeral. These designated representatives will be contacted and instructed on transportation and the process for obtaining parental permission. Under some circumstances, students will not be dismissed from school unless released to the custody of a parent or guardian. All students are encouraged to give strength and support to the relatives of deceased members of the school community by their personal presence at the wake and by their prayers for the deceased person and his/her family. G. SNOWDAYS, DELAYS, & DISMISSALS DUE TO WEATHER School cancellation/delayed opening/early dismissal announcements, due to inclement weather will be broadcast on local radio stations WTAG-AM 580, and WSRS-FM 96.1 or TV stations Channel 4 (CBS Boston, WBZ), Channel 5 (WCVB), and Channel 7 (WHDH). These announcements usually start as early as 5:00 a.m. If there is to be an early dismissal due to weather conditions, the local radio station will carry this announcement. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL. Cancellations/early dismissals are made in conjunction with the Worcester Public Schools. The time of dismissal is dependent on the availability of the bus service and road conditions. A Connect-Ed message will be sent to notify the parents. We will use the work and home phone numbers provided to school. This generally means students are dismissed no earlier than 1:20 p.m. Calls to the school at this time tie up all of our lines, which need to be kept free for emergencies. Please realize the seriousness of blocked phone lines. H. ATTENDANCE AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Due to doctor s appointments and other extenuating circumstances, a student must be in school in order to participate in any extra-curricular activities later that day. Students must have a signed doctor s note on the same day as an appointment. Otherwise students should arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. in order to participate in extracurricular activities. A student, who is absent, is not allowed to participate in any extra-curricular activities being held that day (athletic practices & games, dances, musical practices, and performances, proms, etc.) Students will not be excused from detention to participate in an extra-curricular activity. 13

15 I. FIELD TRIPS AND RETREATS Field trips and Retreats are intended to support the educational/spiritual mission of the school. Attendance at field trips and retreats is mandatory. If a student misses a field trip or retreat it is counted as a day of absence from school. Prior to being allowed to take part in the field trip or retreat the student must have returned the official signed permission slip. We cannot accept notes or phone calls as permission. J. SCHOOL VACATIONS The school does not condone absences that extend a long weekend or vacation and encourages families not to make travel plans that conflict with class time. School vacations are scheduled in December, February, and April to allow students to avail themselves of recreational and educational opportunities. Missing school to go on a vacation is considered an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE and will affect the student s grades. VACATIONS WHILE SCHOOL IS IN SESSION The school does not endorse alternate vacation dates that occur while school is in session. When families choose to take their students out of school for alternate vacation dates, it is the student s responsibility to obtain homework from fellow classmates. Our teachers are not required to give advanced assignments to the students or their parents/guardians. K. SUMMATION This is not a complete list of all possible scenarios relating to attendance. It is intended to be indicative of the intent of St. Peter-Marian s attendance policy. Extreme and unusual circumstances relative to absence, tardiness, and dismissals may occur. These can be submitted to the Administration for individual consideration. All actions are reflective of, and attempt to be consistent with, the philosophy and mission of the school. VI. DRESS CODE A. DRESS CODE ATTIRE St. Peter Marian insists that students dress in a manner that is neat, presentable and professional throughout the school day (including mid-year and final exams) and take pride in personal appearance. The Administration is the final arbiter in interpreting standards for all students. All matters concerning the dress code for students will be directed to the Office of Student Affairs. The uniform store is now located in school. Purchases may be placed on-line or at the school. An or Connect- Ed phone call will inform you of the store s hours of operation. The following dress code will be strictly enforced from 7:20 AM to 2:00 PM in all areas of the campus except on designated dress down days, retreats, or field trips. 1. Students must wear neat and clean uniform trousers. (Jeans, cargo, baggy, or frayed pants are not permitted). Uniform slacks may be black or khaki in color. 2. Female students may opt to wear uniform skirts-hemlines should be 2 inches from the back crease of the knees. 3. Socks must be worn. Girls must wear solid knee socks in the warm weather months. The knee socks may be solid green, navy, grey, maroon, black, or white in color. Girls must wear opaque tights in the cold weather months. They may be solid green, navy, grey, maroon, black, or white in color. 4. Belts must be worn to keep pants at the waist. No studs. Solid color black or brown. Khaki canvas belts are acceptable. 14

16 5. Students must wear a collared Oxford dress shirt (either long or short sleeves) that is properly buttoned and tucked inside the pants at all times. Dress shirts must be solid blue, white or lavender colors with button down collar. Only one button may be opened at the neck. 6. Only neat and clean uniform SPM sweaters are permitted to be worn over the dress shirt and tie. Seniors may wear uniform cardigan sweaters. 7. Shoes and socks are to be worn at all times. Students are required to wear low-heeled, low-cut, tied or closed dress shoes, bucks, sneakers, or loafers. Colors are limited to all black or all brown. Athletic footwear with visible logos, work boots, sandals, slippers or shoes without backs are not permitted. Boots may be worn only days with dangerous weather conditions (icy, snowy), tucked under pants, and with advanced notification from the Assistant Principal. 8. A solid purple tie must be properly tied and worn to the top shirt button by male students. 9. No caps or hats are to be worn inside the school building. 10. No student may wear any outerwear within the school buildings (jackets, coats, vests, etc.) Only sweaters are permitted to be worn over the dress shirt and tie. Sweatshirts are not acceptable outerwear and may not be worn during the school day. Warm Weather Dress Code is from the opening of school until October 1st and resumes May 1st until the end of the school year. Uniform shorts and/or purple polo shirts may be worn during this time. Cold Weather Dress Code is from October 1st through the month of April. A sweater or vest is required to be worn by all students. Athletes will not wear athletic uniforms on game days. Athletic jerseys, or other athletic merchandise, will be allowed on designated School Spirit days which will be announced by the Assistant Principal for Student Affairs. The Athletic Director will determine what item of merchandise each team will wear. Any deviation from these standards due to medical reasons requires a dated slip from the school nurse. Any other deviation will be subject a student to disciplinary action by any member of the faculty or administration. Our dress code requires students to dress neatly and professionally. Therefore, wrinkled clothing or a disheveled appearance will not be tolerated. All students must wear a dress shirt and tie (no polo shirts) when the school community gathers for school-wide liturgies, convocations or other occasions as announced by the administration OUT-OF-DRESS CODE DAYS The administration retains the authority to determine if a clothing item or accessory not specifically covered in this out-of-dress code list is inappropriate for our out-of-dress code attire, or distracts from the school environment. Any student in violation of the dress code will be required to obtain suitable attire before going to class. In addition to the guidelines for the Student Dress Code, the following guidelines are to be followed on OUT-OF-DRESS CODE DAYS: Clothing and accessories containing inappropriate pictures or words (e.g. references to alcohol, drugs, sex, or words/phrases with a double meaning) are not to be worn Low cut or transparent shirts are not allowed No undergarments should be visible or worn as outer garments. This includes boxer shorts, sleeveless shirts, undershirts, or muscleman T-shirts Clothing which exposes the back or midriff are not to be worn Sleeveless shirts are not allowed Dresses and skirts are not allowed Shorts are not allowed 15

17 When in doubt about appropriate Out-of-Dress Code attire, ask an administrator for advice. Violations of dress code are typically addressed by detentions. Administration reserves the right to send the student home to dress appropriately. B. BACKPACKS, BAGS, POCKETBOOKS The use of backpacks, book bags or other bags of any kind is not permitted during the school day. Upon arriving at school, a student should deposit his/her backpack or bag in his locker and retrieve it at the end of the day. C. APPEARANCE Personal appearance should be a point of pride. Although personal appearance expresses one s identity, students should look professional and prepared for an academic setting. We aim to foster a school climate that supports learning, growth, and human dignity. Honoring these principles, the school feels it is important to provide the subsequent guidelines: 1. Hair is to be neat and clean: no extreme, unnaturally occurring colors or outlandish styles. For boys hair must be off the collar, and off the ear. 2. Students faces are to be shaved clean, daily if necessary. (Beards, mustaches, goatees are not permitted). 3. Body piercings of any kind, are not permitted; NO NOSE RINGS. Girls only may have earrings. 4. Visible tattoos are not permitted. 5. Large, or oversized, jewelry could pose a safety hazard and may not be permitted. 6. Sunglasses, or dark tinted glasses, are not to be worn in the building unless deemed necessary by medical reason. A doctor s note is required. D. GUARDIAN ID CARD Each student will be issued a Guardian ID Card at the beginning of the year. The Guardian ID Card is the student s primary source of identification on campus, at athletic and extracurricular events, on buses, at retreats and field trips. Students are required to have their Guardian ID Cards with them at all times and should not allow other students to use them for any reason. A teacher may ask for a student s Guardian ID Card as a means of assigning a detention for inappropriate behavior. Employees of the Worcester Public Schools Bus Company, or those working school-related events, may also ask a student to present a Guardian ID Card as a means of identification if that student is misbehaving. Students may not refuse to show any employees their Guardian ID Card. VII. DISCIPLINE A Harvard University study issued in 2000 reported that Catholic school students performed better than other students on the three basic objectives of civic education-the capacity for civic engagement (e.g., voluntary community service), political knowledge (e.g., learning and using civic skills), and political tolerance (e.g., respect for opinions different from their own). -USCCB Document: Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium, 2005 It is the expectation of the Administration, Faculty and Staff that all members of our community model behavior based on the tenets of our Roman Catholic faith and the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To nurture a safe, structured environment on campus and promote the school s norms and values, the school implements the following disciplinary sanctions, policies, and procedures. All students should be aware that they represent the school at all times, on and off campus, and are subject to the school s discipline code regardless of where they are when an infraction occurs. 16

18 A. OFFICE DETENTION Detentions are the most frequently used measure to modify the behavior of students who have violated the conditions of acceptable behavior for the SPM community. Detentions are conducted Monday through Thursday immediately after school under the administration of the Assistant Principal of Student Affairs. Detentions are imposed for violations in the school code of conduct; depending on the seriousness of the violation(s) and/or upon the frequency with which they are committed, the Assistant Principal will determine the number of detentions a particular violation will incur or whether the detention may be assigned for a Saturday for 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Parents are notified by mail or when their student is given an office detention. Students are given written notification in homeroom. They must serve their detention within the time specified. Failure to serve an office detention will result in an in-school suspension. Detentions are viewed as a punishment for a past violation and simultaneously as a deterrent to prevent future violations, and take priority over any extracurricular activity including athletics and extra help. If a student skips a detention, he will make up the detention and serve a Saturday detention. If a student skips a Saturday detention, he/she will face further disciplinary sanctions. B. LOSS OF PRIVILEGE There are a number of privileges extended to our students. Serious or frequent misuse of our resources by a student could lead to the loss of privilege. Examples include many of the community s resources such as computers, the library, locker rooms, and the cafeteria. Privileges that may also be revoked as a disciplinary sanction are the privileges to attend dances, proms, other social activities, participation in athletics and extracurricular clubs, attendance at athletic and social events as well as graduation, etc. The Assistant Principal will determine these sanctions. C. SUSPENSION Students are liable to be suspended for major or repeated offenses at school or away from school, during the school year, or even on vacation days. Depending on the nature of the violation, the suspension may be served at home or in school. In-school suspensions and out-of-school suspensions are serious disciplinary actions. A student is not allowed to attend class nor any school related activities-drama rehearsal, choir rehearsal, athletic practice or games, math meets, proms, dances etc. All work given in classes that day or due that day will be given a grade of 55. Students are responsible for making up all work missed. A teacher will give a student a grade of zero for any work not made up. A parent/guardian conference with the student and the Assistant Principal is a condition for readmittance after an out of school suspension. A second suspension will result in Disciplinary Probation. D. DISCIPLINARY PROBATION When a student is placed on Disciplinary Probation the following procedures and restrictions are enforced: There is an immediate out-of-school suspension, between 1-5 days, followed by a parental conference with the Assistant Principal. The student shall be excluded for a period of one semester or ninety days from all school-related activities on, or off, school premises. The student shall be excluded from all rallies, assemblies and other activities with the exception of Liturgical Events. The student shall complete twenty hours of work detention after school. The student will relinquish any leadership roles they hold. 17