ADMISSION OF STUDENTS
In accepting students at Saint Veronica School, state and federal regulations are followed. Students are not discriminated on the basis of race, sex, creed, color, religion, or national origin. Saint Veronica School gives preference in admission to Catholic students from our parish, secondly to Catholic students from other parishes, thirdly to non-Catholics.
ATTENDANCE
Sickness excuses the pupil from attendance at school. If a child is under doctor’s care, a written statement from the doctor must be presented BEFORE the child is readmitted.
Parents should call the school as early as possible to report an absent child each day the student will be absent. If a Homework sheet is requested, please call it in by 10:00 A.M. Since other parents may be waiting to call, it is requested that you make your calls brief and to the point. Children should not be sent to school if they have a fever in the morning or are nauseated. This only necessitates sending the child home during the day.
If a child becomes sick in school, the parents will be notified to come for the child. No child is permitted to leave the building alone. It is therefore, important to register an emergency referral to be contacted in the event that the parent is not at home.
ABSENCES
The Diocese of Trenton requires regular attendance in accordance with state law, so that students may be taught the academic and social skills needed to function in a productive society. Whenever a child is absent, he/she MUST bring a written excuse signed and dated by the parent stating the reason for the absence. If a student is absent more than three days in succession, a doctor’s note is required naming the diagnosis of the student. These notes, by Law, must be kept on file in the Office.
It is advisable to arrange doctor and dentist appointments for after school hours. If this is impossible or an emergency arises, a note must be presented to the Office and in turn to the teacher. If absences are suspicious or extended, the Principal will notify the truant officer to visit the home. If truancy is repeated, the parents may be served a legal notice to appear in court and be fined $50.00 per day from the court.
Vacations taken during the course of the school year, other than on school holidays, are illegal absences. Work missed during that time will be made up when the child returns at the discretion of the teacher.
TARDINESS
Students are to arrive at school by 9:05 A.M. Any child who arrives at school AFTER the opening bell at 9:20 A.M. is marked Tardy. He/she must report to the office and obtain a slip permitting him/her to enter the class. If a child is tardy three or more times in one marking period, a letter is sent home. Consistent unexcused tardiness will result in a conference with the Principal. Students who arrive late due to either late bus pick-up or no bus pick-up are not considered tardy, however this tardiness must be recorded on the permanent record. This tardiness will not, however, affect perfect attendance.
EARLY STUDENT RELEASE
Parents are asked not to request that children be excused during school hours for medical appointments unless it is absolutely unavoidable because this interferes with a child's expected progress.
In the event that it becomes necessary for a student to be dismissed earlier than scheduled, the procedure is as follows to protect your child:
WITHDRAWALS
A family that intends to move away should notify the Principal well in advance. Before any transfer or records are given, all financial accounts must be settled; tuition paid in full and cleared through the bank. Transfers are given only to the parents personally, not through the children or phone. Records are sent directly to the given school after notice is received that the child has been accepted.
If a parent informs the school that their child is going to a particular school and then a change of schools is made during the summer, this information must be submitted in writing to our office as soon as possible, since we must account for every pupil who leaves our school and verify his/her acceptance into another school.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS/TELEPHONE
A change of address or telephone number must be reported immediately to the school office and the teacher.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
If weather conditions prevent the opening of school, parents will be notified through the Radio Stations: WADB (95.9 FM), WJLK (94.3 FM), and WOBM (92.7 FM), as well as by our voice broadcasting system.
Please do not call the Rectory, School, or Convent for information concerning school closings.
Should the school need to be closed during the day due to snow or some unforeseen emergency, parents will be notified through the school’s Emergency Telephone Chain and the local Radio Stations.
TELEPHONE CALLS
The school telephone may not be used for any other reason than official school business. CHILDREN MAY NOT CALL PARENTS to bring in forgotten assignments, books, etc. Students are not allowed to take incoming calls. In cases of emergency, messages will be delivered to the students. In an extreme emergency, students may use the telephone in the school’s main office with the permission of the Principal or Vice Principal.
CELL PHONES
SVS does allow students to carry cell phones for emergency use ONLY and must be kept in student’s backpack. They are not to be carried on the students’ person during the day, nor may they be used on morning or after school lines. The school does not accept responsibility for lost cell phones. All cell phones must be turned off during school hours. Any student in possession of a cell phone must have a signed Cell Phone Policy Agreement on school file. Administration reserves the right to terminate the privilege of carrying a cell phone for misuse.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is the responsibility of the parents.
Forms requesting bus transportation from your home district must be signed and sent to the district each year prior to April 1 st. When such forms are sent home for the coming school year, we ask that you complete the form and return it to school immediately.
Students are discouraged from using school buses other than their own during the course of the week. School bus drivers are not obligated to transport other students than those assigned to them. Should the need arise, parents must write a note requesting the privilege to ride another bus and the note must be signed by the office staff.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Parents are asked to drop the students off by the Church. Please do not drop them off by the Gym. This area is reserved for the bus drop off.
Rainbow Patch parents are asked to park in the parking area beyond the gym and walk your child on the walkway past the playground to their classroom door located in the rear of the building and to pick them up from there as well.
For after school pickups, parents are asked to park in the Church parking area. Parents must come in through the front doors of the school to the back of the cafeteria, where the students will be dismissed.
COMMUNICATION
A key to success in any organization is communication. To strengthen the lines of communication between home and school, each Monday you will receive a white envelope which contains important information from the principal and the P.T.A. Parents are asked to read the contents, sign the envelope, and return it to school the next day. If you do not receive an envelope each Monday, please check with your child. It is the responsibility of the parents to promptly notify the school office if you do not receive this yellow envelope.
In addition, each student will receive a weekly progress folder. In it will be any tests or assignments teachers would like you to see, along with a progress report for the week. Parents are asked to sign the folder and return it the next day.
In keeping with the church’s principle of subsidiary, persons having a problem with another individual should go directly to that person before going to that person’s superior. If a parent has a concern with a teacher, it is just that the parent discuss the difficulty first with the teacher. The parent or teacher may request that the Vice Principal or Principal be present for a conference. Working through our difficulties helps communication and is consistent with the demands of the Gospel.
If you need to speak with a teacher, the Vice Principal or Principal, please call the office or send a letter to make an appointment.
VISITORS
Visitors are welcome - HOWEVER - for security reasons…
Parents, as well as all visitors to the school, MUST report to the school office to sign in. No one will be permitted to move through the building unless authorized by the school office. Please do not enter the school corridor through the CCD office.
The security of students is of utmost importance. Parents are not permitted to walk through corridors or to speak with the teacher while she has the responsibility of monitoring the class. The main vestibule should remain free of any disturbances to allow the Safety Patrols and the Teachers to dismiss children safely.
LOST AND FOUND
Found items will be placed in the Lost & Found box in the Main Office. Students who lose items - or if parents notice a missing item - should immediately check the Lost & Found. Items not claimed within two weeks will be discarded or given to the Uniform Exchange.
BIRTHDAY INVITATIONS
In keeping with the philosophy of St. Veronica School, birthday party invitations may only be distributed in school if they are going to every child in the class. We may not distribute telephone numbers or addresses of students.
PRINCIPAL’S RIGHT TO AMEND HANDBOOK
The Principal retains the right to amend the handbook for just cause, and parents will be notified if changes are made.
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