PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES

Mass Attendance - An integral part of our Religious Education Program is that our students attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and participate fully in an essential part of the sacramental life of the Church.  Learning in class can be truly effective only when one meets the Lord sacramentally at the altar.  All students are required to hand in a weekly Mass assignment.

Homework - Homework is an important part of classroom instruction; it reinforces the material presented to the student and provides an opportunity for family involvement.  It is the parents' responsibility to see that children are prepared for class, and have completed projects and/or assignments.  Students should come prepared each week with textbook, pen, pencils, and whatever the catechist has requested of his/her class.

Communication - When a parent experiences a problem with his/her child in the classroom experience, we ask that the parent call our office immediately to remedy the situation.  Frequently parents can become concerned over: a child/catechist relationship, a statement made by the catechist in the classroom in reference to Church teaching, or a disciplinary action which has taken place.  Our office is always open to hear you - even if you feel you are presenting a problem situation.  We sincerely ask you to call and discuss any concern with us.

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 ATTENDANCE POLICY

Religious Education Classes should take top priority over all other programs and activities as these classes are integral to your child's growth in faith.  Please note that no student will proceed to the next grade level if he or she is absent for more than five class sessions.

Absenteeism - Weekly attendance in the program is a must if proper instruction and learning is to take place.  If a child is absent, a note which explains the reason for the absence is to be brought to the classroom catechist the following week.  This note must carry the date of and the reason for the absence, and the parent's signature.  The note is to be written on note paper and enclosed in an envelope.  It is expected that all homework and assignments will be made up when a child is absent.

Please note: If a child has been absent for an excessive number of times, the parent will be called to discuss the problem.

Tardiness - Every time a child enters a classroom late, he/she interrupts the lesson which the catechist has planned.  We ask that you exert every effort possible to have your child in class on time.  The catechist and the principal will keep a record of tardiness.  If a student is repeatedly tardy, the parent will be called to discuss the problem.

Procedure for taking a child out of class before dismissal time - On occasion parents have needed to take their children out of the program before dismissal time.  If such a request becomes necessary for a parent, you must do the following:

Procedure for walkers and carpooling - If your child will be walking or in a carpool during this school year, a note indicating such (including drivers' names) must be sent in to the catechist at the first class.  This note will be kept on file for the entire year.  A note is also required any time your child will be picked up by anyone other than the person who normally holds this responsibility.  No student will be dismissed to anyone other than his/her parent unless permission to do so has been given in writing.

For your child's safety, it is essential that he/she not be dropped off more than ten minutes before and picked up no later than ten minutes after scheduled class time.  The parish cannot guarantee supervision beyond these times.

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 DISCIPLINE

Each week catechists come prepared to provide their students with a positive learning experience.  Sometimes children will disrupt this process and disobey the rules of the classroom.  When a child repeatedly becomes a behavior problem, he/she will be removed from the classroom and sent to the principal in the library.  Any child who has to be removed from the classroom for disciplinary measures three times will not be allowed to return to the classroom until a conference with the child's parent, the catechist, the Religious Education Moderator, and the Director of Religious Education has taken place.

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 PROGRESS REPORTS

Religious formation of the child takes place in the home, in church, and in the class setting.  Progress reports for the Religious Education Program reflect class performance only.  They are issued twice yearly (in January and May), to indicate the strengths and weaknesses that the students are demonstrating.  They are to be signed by a parent and returned to the catechist at the next class session.

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 BAD WEATHER POLICY

Please listen to the following radio stations for announcements concerning the cancellation of classes.  We try our best to cancel at a convenient time for you to be notified.  As you know, however, the weather does not always cooperate with us. If school is canceled due to inclement weather, religious education classes are canceled as well.  Please DO NOT call the Rectory and try not to call the Office of Religious Education to question cancellation of classes.  It will be announced on the radio as soon as a decision has been made.
 

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 EMERGENCIES

If you need to communicate with us during the hours of the program, please call 297-7500.

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 ADMISSION POLICY

St. Mary's Religious Education Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, or handicapping conditions.

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 CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN

Following are procedures that will be in effect in the event of an emergency during any Religious Education session.  Please be sure to read these instructions carefully and be familiar with the plan should a crisis ever arise.

Illness or injury to your child

We will attempt to reach you by telephone.  If unsuccessful, we will phone the person listed by you on your Medical Emergency Form.  If still unsuccessful, we will make a determination either to keep your child in the library until you arrive at dismissal, or call an ambulance to bring your child to the Emergency Room at St. Francis Hospital (unless you have designated otherwise).  Of course, in a life-threatening emergency, 911 will be called immediately.

Building Lockdown

The building will be secured by closing and locking all windows, doors, and blinds.  An opaque covering will be placed over the window on the door.  Children will be directed by their catechists to take cover on the floor.  The Religious Education Staff will notify the police, rectory, and parents as soon as possible.  If necessary, the phone chain will be put into effect.  Otherwise, parents will be read a prepared statement by a member of the Crisis Management Team upon their arrival at the school.  This information will include where and when students will be released.  A statement will also be prepared as soon as possible and put on the Religious Education Office answering machine (297-7586).

**Please remember that, in a lockdown, no one is permitted in or out of the building!!

Evacuation

A whistle will blow followed by an announcement in the halls which will be detemined by the situation.  Two evacuation sites have been established: Evacuation Site A - the Church; Evacuation Site B - the Convent.  Should it be determined that leaving the building would place the children in further jeopardy, a third site (the school lunchroom) would be employed.  The Religious Education staff will notify the police, rectory and parents as soon as possible.  Law enforcement and emergency response personnel will redirect parents to the secured location.  Parents will sign out their children from designated areas.  Clear, written permission must ALWAYS be provided in order to allow adults other than the child's parents or guardians to remove students from school.  CHILDREN WILL NOT BE DISMISSED TO ANYONE WITHOUT THE PARENTS' WRITTEN PERMISSION

For these reasons, it is ESSENTIAL that EVERY parent complete and return a Medical Emergency Form EACH YEAR.  Please be sure to notify the Religious Education Office of any change in emergency contact person or phone numbers throughout the year.

We trust that these steps will ensure your child's safety at all times.  It is unfortunate that such a plan is necessary - let us pray we never need to put it into effect.

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 ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

Arrival

Parents should drop their children off at the front of the school and tell their children to go directly into the building, OR parents may park in an available space and walk their children into the front entrance of the building.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF CHILDREN WALKING IN THE PARKING AREA.

After the children are dropped off, parents should drive to the rear of the school and exit to the right of the cemetery out the rear gates to Channingville Road, or to the left of the parking lot to Downey Avenue.  Keep the flow of traffic in one direction.

DO NOT MAKE U-TURNS.  DO NOT EXIT FROM CONVENT AVENUE.

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Dismissal

Enter by way of Channingville Road only.  We do not want you to enter Convent Avenue as the gate by Downey Avenue will be closed and locked.  We do not want you to enter Downey Avenue because it is a very narrow road and cannot handle two-way traffic.

Parking:

 • Kindergarten through third grade parents are to park in the parking lot next to the library (Parking Lot #2).

 • Fourth through Sixth grade parents are to park in the back of the school (Parking Lot #3).

At the end of class the dismissal bell will ring:

	• Kindergarten through third grade parents will enter the library entrance and go to their children's classroom door and wait for the catechist to dismiss the children.
	• Fourth through sixth grade parents will enter the back door and go to their children's classroom and wait for the catechist to dismiss the children.
	• Parents of Junior High/Roots of Faith students will park in the lot next to the library and will enter the library entrance.  (Parking Lot #2).
	You may exit the parking lots by either Channingville Road or Downey Avenue.

Children who are not picked up at dismissal will be brought to the library and then to the Religious Education Office, where a principal or administrator will care for them until a parent comes.

Dismissal is a hectic time and can be very dangerous if parents do not proceed with caution.  Please park your car and come into the building to pick up your children.  A walkway has been installed at the side of the building for your safety.  Do not drive in the safety dismissal zone because this creates a dangerous situation for other children and their parents who are walking toward their cars.  Let us reemphasize we will not allow the children to leave the school until the parent meets them inside.

We have provided a map (see above).  Please note that we have established one-way signs for the flow of traffic.  At all times the one-way direction of traffic will be strictly enforced.  No cars will be allowed in the safety zone; this policy will also be strictly enforced.