Procedures

Schedule for Students in grades 1-8

Schedule for Kindergarten Students
8:00-10:40 A.M. class
11:40-2:20 P.M. class

Schedule for Pre-School Students
4 yr. olds:
8:05-10:35 M, T, W 4 yr. old A.M. class
111:45-2:15 M, T, W 4 yr. old P.M. class
3 yr. olds:
Th, F 3 yr. old A.M. class
Th, F, 3 yr. old P.M. class

Arrival
Doors open for students in grades 1-8 at 7:45 a.m. Students who walk or are driven should arrive between 7:45-7:55 a.m. and enter the south Douglas door. Parents should drop off their children on Douglas (not Prairie). Parents can park in the lot, in front of the Church on Douglas, or on Gierz to walk their children to school. Cross only at Prairie and Douglas and follow the directions of the crossing guard and the student patrols. Parents are asked not to come into the building to escort their children to their classrooms. Bused children are held in the gym until 7:45 a.m.

Dismissal
Walkers are dismissed at 2:27 p.m. Students taking the buses are dismissed by grade after the walkers. Parents who come to pick up their children are asked to heed the flashing stop signs on the school buses when the children are loading. You must exit the parking lot at the far east end and go to Fairview. You may also park on Douglas or Gierz. The crossing guard directs walkers only, not car traffic.

Early Dismissal
Students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on most Early Dismissal Days. See the calendar for dates.

Illness / Accident at School
In case of illness or an accident, the school will use the following procedures: 1. contact the parents, 2. contact the emergency contacts on the student card, 3. notify the family doctor if the situation warrants, 4. take necessary emergency steps to ensure the well being of the student.

It is essential that correct information is provided on the emergency cards in the school office. This includes correct cell and work numbers of parents, names and phone numbers of emergency contacts and doctors.

Lunch Time
Parents are asked to send healthy food for their children's lunches. Please do not bring in food from fast food restaurants. On Hot Lunch Days, students have the option of pre-ordering the special of the day or bringing their own lunch from home.

Milk
The school offers the Government Milk Program. First semester fees are stated in the August Parent packet. Second semester fees are quoted later and collected in January.

Field Trips
Educational field trips are an integral part of the curriculum. Parental signed permission slips issued by the school must be in the office before students are allowed to participate. Transportation and admission fees will be required. Students who do not behave on a field trip may have the privilege of future trips taken away.

Weekly Envelope
Most school information is sent home on Wednesday of each week through the oldest child. Parents are asked to sign the envelope and return it the next day. Tuition statements are sent home as close to the first of the month as possible. The Principal or the Assistant Principal must approve all notes/letters sent through the school.

After School Care Program
The After School Care Program is available for all full days of school. It is not available for half days. Registration and enrollment forms are available in the school office.
Location: Parish Center Lower Level ("The Underground")
Time: Dismissal until 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $12.00 per day for the first child, $6.00 per day for each additional child

Student Use of the Telephone
Use of the telephone by students is limited to emergency calls or school business calls only. Forgotten assignments or supplies are not emergencies. Parent telephone messages will be relayed to the student.

Absences
Parents are asked to call the school (968-6155) to report their child's absence between 7:30-8:15 a.m. The school office will call home if a phone call is not received. Upon the student's return, a written note explaining the absence is given to the teacher. It is the student's responsibility to make up all assignments, projects, and tests during his/her absence. Parents may request to pick up assignments in the office by calling the office or sending a note through a sibling.

Student Appointments during the Day
Doctor/Dentist Appointments should be scheduled outside school hours. If a student needs to leave the building during the school day, he/she needs a note with the date, time, reason, and parent's signature. The parent/guardian/designated adult must pick up the student at the school office. We cannot allow the student to leave the building alone.

Health Concerns

Communicable Diseases
In order to promote optimum health in the school, the following policies are in effect. The school must report all cases of these diseases the Health Department. A physician's note is required if the student comes to school before the following times have elapsed.

CHICKEN POX-----------Exclude from school for at least 5 days after appearance of rash.
MEASLES-----------------Exclude from school for at least 4days after appearance of rash.
MUMPS-------------------- Exclude from school for at least 9 days.
PINK EYE------------------Exclude from school for at 24 hrs.after treatment begins.
RUBELLA------------------Exclude from school for at least 7 days after appearance of rash
STREP THROAT------- -Exclude from school for 24 hrs. after treatment begins.

Examinations and Immunization
Physical examinations (medical and dental) are required of all students attending our school anytime within six months prior to their entrance into kindergarten or first grade and upon their entrance into fifth grade. Proof of updated health requirements must be on file with the school two weeks prior to a student entering in August. Failure to comply will exclude the student from school. Physical examination forms are given to the fourth grade students before the end of the school year so physicals can be completed during summer vacation.

The Illinois Department of Public Health requires proof of two measles vaccinations for entrance to all grades. Immunization is necessary if a physician has not documented the measles disease with dates. The vaccination is usually given in combination with vaccines against mumps and rubella as MMR. A series of three Hepatitis B shots is also mandatory for preschool and 5th grade students. These shots should be acquired as soon as possible due to the waiting period between shots. The exclusion date for students not in compliance is October 15, 2007.

Medication in School
Prior to medication being given at school, parents and physician must complete a permission form authorizing the school to administer the medication. Permission forms are needed for separate medication times. Medication must be brought in a pharmaceutical container clearly marked with the student's name, the name of the medication, and instructions. Up to one week's supply may be brought into the school office. Empty containers are sent home on Friday. The classroom teacher should be told if a student is on medication and of the side effects. A note must be sent to school each day that over-the-counter cough drops, etc. are to be used.

Safety Issues
Bus Conduct
A student is to ride the bus to which he/she is assigned. A request to ride another bus must be shown to the office, signed, and given to the bus driver. Students are allowed off the bus only at designated spots. The bus driver is in charge of the bus and its occupants; students must comply with the requests of the driver. School bus transportation, provided by District 58, is an extension of the school day. Students who violate behavior expectations are subject to removal from the bus and/or other penalties.

Telephone Directory and E-Mail Directory
Each year the school prints a telephone directory of school families. In August, we request verification of the information in our files and tp print. A family may be listed in the directory, listed without its phone number, or not listed. In addition, families can submit one email address for the email directory. Both of these directories are for the use of our parents to contact each other as members of the school family.

No part of this publication may be produced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including, but not limited to, photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, St. Mary of Gostyn Parish. The information contained in this publication, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, and any list contained in this publication containing that information, cannot be used in any form without the expressed written permission of the author, St. Mary of Gostyn Parish.

Teachers' telephone numbers are not given out. If a parent calls the office, the teacher is notified to return the call.

Visitors
Visitors are welcome at St. Mary's. In order to maintain a safe environment for our students and staff, all visitors are required to sign in and out at the school office and to wear a badge while in the building. Parents are asked to handle all daily matters in the office or arrange for an appointment to see a teacher through a note, telephone message, or email.

Emergency-Bad Weather Closing
If weather or circumstances dictate that we not open school before the regularly scheduled time, every attempt will be made to contact parents. Information will be relayed through an Emergency Telephone Notification System. TV and radio stations will be notified. Please do not phone the school or rectory for information as this makes the phone lines inaccessible for emergency use. Families should have plans in place in the event that no one is home when the student arrives. When school is closed, all after-school events are canceled.

Vacations
Family Vacation time should coincide with the School Calendar. There is no such thing as make-up work; teachers can only attempt to offset the loss of instructional time. With the increase of teacher-pupil interaction, discussion groups, computer-assisted instruction, etc., a loss of a day may be detrimental to a student's progress. Absenteeism presents a problem for both teachers and students since it prohibits continuity of instruction. Parents should notify the school before the vacation. It is the student's responsibility to request and makeup all assignments and tests. Teachers are not responsible for assigning work, which will be missed during the vacation.

Divorce Concerns
When parents become divorced and custody of the child is part of the decree, the parent with custody must inform the school. It is essential that the school know when only one parent has access to the student's records. When parents have joint custody, the school needs to have addresses and phone numbers of both parents. The school needs to be informed if both parents need to be sent school information separately.