Welcome to St. Raphael Elementary School

Handbook

Click here for a version to download & print

WELCOME
This handbook has been prepared to help parents and students understand and adjust to school policies and regulations. Where the term “parent” is used alone in this handbook, the intention is to mean either a parent or guardian.

All policies follow the guidelines established by the Dioceses of Little Rock. Copies of the Diocesan “Policy Manual for Elementary and Secondary Schools’ are available for review in the school office.

During the year you and your child will grow in many ways. The faculty and staff are here to assist you in that process. Remember, success will depend on the efforts you and your child put forth each day.

Our efforts are unified in the goal of leading all our students to be faithful stewards and Disciples of Christ.

PHILIOSOPHY OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION
AND
ST. RAPHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

The development of the whole person: spiritually, intellectually, personally, socially, and physically, is the focus of Catholic Education. The teachers, as partners with the parents, play a significant role in this educational ministry.

St. Raphael will provide an environment with quality education focused on Catholic principles that will guide the children into living a productive Christ-like life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCHOOL POLICIES

ADMISSION.. 4

ENTRANCE AGE.. 4

BAPTISMAL or COMMUNION CERTIFICATES.. 5

IMMUNIZATION - BIRTH CERTIFICATE - 5

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS. 5

FEES and TUITION.. 5

ACADEMIC POLICIES.. 5

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB.. 6

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL.. 6

WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL. 7

CLASSROOM PARTIES.. 7

COMPLAINTS.. 7

COMPUTERS.. 7

Acceptable Computer Use Policy for Students:. 7

Terms and Conditions of Use:. 7

ACCEPTABLE CLOTHING ITEMS.. 9

HAIR.. 10

MAKE-UP/JEWELRY. 10

SCOUT UNIFORMS.. 10

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS.. 10

ELECTRONICS/TOYS.. 10

E-MAIL.. 10

EARLY DISMISSAL.. 10

FIELD TRIPS.. 11

FOOD/BEVERAGE/GUM.. 11

FUNDS AND GIFTS.. 11

Adopt-A-Student Fund.. 11

St. Raphael Catholic School Endowment and Educational Trust Fund.. 11

HARASSMENT.. 11

HEALTH.. 11

HOME STUDY.. 12

LIBRARY AND AUDIO VISUAL MATERIALS.. 12

MEDICINE.. 12

MONEY.. 13

NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS.. 13

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO) 13

RECESS.. 13

REPORT CARDS.. 13

SAFETY.. 13

SCHOOL BOARD.. 14

SCHOOL’S RIGHT TO AMEND.. 14

SCHOOL SUPPORT HOURS.. 14

TUESDAY TIDBITS.. 15

TELEPHONE USE.. 15

VOLUNTEERS

.. 15

SCHOOL POLICIES

Established for St. Raphael Catholic School

IT SHALL BE THE POLICY OF

ST. RAPHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL…

1. That the School Conform to the current Diocesan policies set forth in the Diocesan School Handbook.

2. That all students wear the uniform of the school

3. That fundraising to benefit the school or the church is permitted, with prior pastoral approval.

4. That guidelines to determine class size and teacher/pupil ratio will be established by the Principal with consultation of the School Board and Diocesan School Manual.

5. That there shall be published annually a school handbook to introduce parents and students to the school and its policies. This handbook shall include the discipline and homework policies of the school and shall be given to all parents/guardians of students attending St. Raphael Catholic School.

6. That, in recognition of the importance of Catholic Education, we encourage the promotion and development of Catholic Schools Week Activities.

7. That traffic control on school property will be under the direction of the Principal.

8. That students who transfer to St. Raphael from any educational program other than an accredited school shall be tested to assist in evaluating proper grade placement. All students will be placed on a 30-day academic assessment probationary period.

9. That a parent/guardian shall meet personally with his or her child’s/ children’s homeroom teacher at least twice during the year. Parents/guardians are to use the scheduled Parent-Teacher conferences for the meetings or set up an appointment with the teacher for additional conferences.

10. That spring registration be held in order to help determine the number of students for the fall classes, and to assist in determining proper classroom divisions and teacher/student ratios. A non-refundable fee will be assessed at the time of registration.

11. That the School Board members will meet informally with the School staff at the beginning of each school year to become acquainted with each other.

12. That final records and progress reports will be withheld for students whose accounts are in arrears in tuition payments or fees have been paid in full. Until all financial accounts for a student are cleared, that student will not be given final exams and will receive a grade incomplete (I) in subject areas

13. That students with outstanding financial accounts shall not register for the following school year until payment arrangements have been made with the Pastor and Principal.

14. That violent behavior and actions will not be tolerated. It will be up to the Principal to handle each situation in a swift, sensitive, and effective manner. Severe actions could result in withdrawal from St. Raphael Catholic School.

ADMISSION

St. Raphael Catholic School will admit students of any race, color, or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to our students.

The following sequence guidelines will be used to register students in the spring for the coming year: (1) Families with students presently attending SRCS: (2) Parishioners whose children are not currently attending SRCS: (3) Non-parishioners whose children are not currently attending SRCS.

ENTRANCE AGE

No child will be admitted to Kindergarten unless he/she has attained the age of FIVE (5) YEARS ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15 FOR THE 2007-08 SCHOOL YEAR.

No child will be admitted to Preschool unless he/she has attained the age of THREE (3)

YEARS ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1^ST FOR THE 2007-08 SCHOOL YEAR.

A bill has been passed by congress to increase the minimum age for children entering Kindergarten.

The cutoff dates are as follows…

2008-09 School year, 5 years by Sept. 15

2009-10 School year, 5 years by Sept. 1st

2010-11 School year, 5 years by Aug. 15

2011-12 School year, 5 years by Aug. 1^st

Preschool cutoff dates

2007-08 School Year, 3 by Sept. 1^st

2008-09 School Year, 3 by Aug. 15^th

2009-10 School Year, 3 by Aug. 1^st

BAPTISMAL or COMMUNION CERTIFICATES

Catholic students should present their Sacramental Certificates at the time of registering at SRCS.

IMMUNIZATION - BIRTH CERTIFICATE -
Documentation of State-required immunizations plus a birth certificate are to be presented at the time of registration for all beginning/transfer students. Students who transfer from an in-state or out-of-state school may be admitted conditionally for a maximum of 30 calendar days while immunization documentation is being obtained and presented to the School. If current complete documentation is not presented to the School by the end of the conditional period, the affected child/children will be excluded from the school. Only a certificate issued by the Director of Arkansas Department of Health may make exemption to the immunization law.

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS


	Vaccine	Doses	Timeline

1.	Polio Vaccine	4	The last dose must be AFTER the child's 4th birthday.
2.	DPT Vaccine	5	The last dose must be AFTER the child's 4th birthday.
3.	Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)	2	The dose must have been given AFTER the child's 1st birthday. Booster before 7th grade.
4.	Hepatitis B	3	These three doses are required before completing Kindergarten.
5.	Varicella (chicken pox)	1	The dose must have been given AFTER The child's 1st birthday.

FEES and TUITION

PRE-ADMISSION~
Submission of Spring Admission Forms for the following year will be in March. A nonrefundable pre-admission fee per child is assessed at this time. Pre-admission not only assures a place in class for pre-admitted children, it also allows the Administration to determine proper classroom divisions and teacher-student ratios for the following year. All fees are applied toward meeting school expenses, such as library fees, diocesan fees, and supply fees, for the ensuing year.

TUITION SCHEDULE ~
Tuition may be paid annually, bi-annually or monthly. The first payment is due August 1^st and the last payment is due May 1^st. Failure to pay tuition may result in student being removed from the school.

Kindergarten – Third (