(From Handbook)
SCHOOL VISITORS
All visitors must check in at the reception desk. Any articles or messages for students must be given to office personnel for delivery. Parents should not make unannounced visits to classrooms as such visits may interrupt the continuity of classes.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
All students are required to take religion classes and to attend religious functions. Family life education, including age-appropriate aspects of human sexuality, is part of the religion curriculum. All students participate in community service as part of their religion studies.
RENTAL TEXTBOOKS
Students are responsible for the care and condition of books and materials rented or on loan from the school. All rented books must be covered at all times. However, students should not use contact paper or similar materials which leave a sticky residue. Tape used in covering books should not touch any surface of the books. We prohibit the use of sock covers, as they contribute to binding and corner damage. Students should not write in or on the inside covers or edges of any rental book. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in fines for partial or full replacement cost of the books.
LUNCH
Parents are strongly encouraged to use the option of depositing a lump sum of money for students to use on a debit system. Fast food is not permitted in the cafeteria for students or adults. Soft drinks or beverages in glass containers are not permitted. L.S. students may not purchase soft drinks. Parents may have lunch with their children twice during the school year, beginning after November 1. Please send a note or call the office before 8:30AM so that sufficient food is prepared.
Lunch Schedule
- grades 5-7: 10:55 AM-11:25 AM
- grades 2-4: 11:25 AM-11:55 AM
- PK: 12:10-12:45
- grades K-1: 12:20PM- 1:00 PM
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are privileges. Students may be denied participation if they fail to meet academic or behavioral requirements. Parents or guardians may refuse to allow their children to participate in a field trip. In order for students to participate in a specific field trip, parents or guardians must complete and sign the standard school field trip form. Students who fail to return a signed permission form will not be allowed to participate. Due to Diocesan regulations, the school cannot accept telephonic permission or handwritten notes in lieu of signed forms. However, faxed permission forms are acceptable (345-0785). For parents’ convenience, a blank permission form is included in this handbook and available online at roanokecatholic.com.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Decisions to open or to close school during inclement weather are made by the school president. The decision to close or to open late will be made before 7:00 AM whenever possible and provided to local media. Students and parents should listen to local radio and television stations for this information. Please do not call the school to inquire about school closings because phone lines are needed to release information to the media.
If school is operating on either a one-hour or a two-hour delay, parents should continue to listen to radio and television stations for updates as weather conditions may necessitate closing.
LOST AND FOUND
The school does not accept responsibility for personal articles. All clothing and personal articles should be labeled with students' names. Students should check the office for lost articles. Unclaimed clothing will be donated to a charitable agency. If students cannot recover lost textbooks within one week, they must purchase replacements.
BUS
Bus service is provided by prearranged request. Occasional riders whose drop-off point is on an established route may ride the bus provided they bring notes from parents or guardians and also pay $6.00 per ride. Guest passes for visitors riding home with regular bus riders cost $3.00 per pass. All bus riders must comply with established bus safety rules.
AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
After-School Care is available until 6:00 PM each school day. Separate applications, recent physical forms (for the first year only), and fees are required. Students who occasionally use this service must also have on file applications, physical forms, and information sheets.
PARTIES
All parties of any nature must be approved by the administration. Individual birthday parties are not permitted. Invitations for private parties may be passed out at school only if everyone in the class is invited.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Daily attendance and punctuality are required except for illness or emergency. Both may affect participation in school activities. Perfect attendance means that students have been on time every day and have not had any early dismissals.
Students who have been absent must bring their homeroom teachers notes of explanation from parents or guardians. These notes should include the dates of absence and the specific reasons for the absence. Students should present these notes to their homeroom teachers on the day they return to school. Assignment sheets may be used for this purpose.
When students are absent, parents should notify the school between 7:30 and 8:30 AM. At that time, parents may also request the day's assignments and arrange to pick them up between 2:45 and 4:00PM in the office, or 4:00 and 6:00PM via Afterschool Care. Students should turn in the assignments when they return to school.
Prolonged or frequent absences, as well as repeated failures to make up work missed during such absences, may result in failing grades or requests that students withdraw from the school.
If a student’s absences total fifteen days, the principal will meet with the student and parents to determine the status of the student.
Parents are strongly encouraged to plan family trips to coincide with vacation periods on the school calendar. No advance assignments will be available for students taking such vacations.
TARDINESS POLICIES
Supervision of students in the Lower School cafeteria/gymnasium begins at 7:30 AM. All students should be in full uniform and in the building no later than 8:00 AM. Students are considered tardy to school if they are not in homeroom by 8:00 AM for Middle School students, 8:15 AM for K-5 students. Students arriving after the designated time must report directly to the office. If a student will be arriving later than 8:30AM, parents should call the school to order lunch, if needed. Repeated tardies will result in conferences with parents.
EARLY DISMISSALS
Early dismissals from school are granted only in cases of illness, emergency, or upon written notification from parents or guardians. Students who need to leave school for scheduled appointments should give notes to their homeroom teachers the day before the appointments. These notes should specify the date, time, and reason for the dismissal.
SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN Roanoke Catholic School has a school safety plan to address emergency situations. In the event that the school must be evacuated, students will reassemble in St. Andrew Church. The school will provide information to local radio and television stations. (See Inclement Weather, p. 11.) Parents should not call the school.
As part of the safety plan, the school conducts unannounced fire drills and lock-down drills on a regular basis.
INJURY OR ILLNESS
When students become ill or injured, they will be sent to the Nurse’s Clinic for evaluation and care. Basic first aid will be given for injuries. Non-medicine treatment will be given for minor illnesses. No medicine will be given without prior written authorization or verbal consent given to school nurse by phone. Verbal permission will be for one time only, and the standard authorization and permission form must be sent in the next school day.
Parents will be called for any condition deemed necessary by the nurse and always for head injury or temperature 100? or greater. Students will be excluded from school for temperature of 100?, conjunctivitis (pink eye), head lice, and other communicable diseases diagnosed by a physician. These conditions must be reported to the school nurse as soon as possible. Students seeking readmission to school after treatment for head lice must be seen by the nurse prior to entering the classroom.
In order for some students to be successful and stay in school, they require medication during the school day. For the safety and well being of all students, parents must follow all guidelines regarding medicine in school.
- Parental authorization and permission for administration of medication will be obtained in a standard form. All information must be completed.
- Prescription medication must be in the original container, with the physician’s name and directions for administering the medication clearly visible. The name of the medication as well as the dosage must also be clear.
- Parents must deliver the first dose of prescription medicine to school. Students may bring in refills. They must deliver these to the Nurse’s Clinic immediately upon entering the school building in the morning.
- Prescription medicines will be dispensed only in the Nurse’s Clinic. Students are not to self-medicate under any circumstances.
- **Students who need to carry inhalers for asthma must have emergency information on file with the nurse.
- Over-the–counter medications must also be brought to the Nurse’s Clinic, have parental authorization, and be dispensed in the Clinic. Small packages or bottles of new, unopened medication should be sent.
HIV/AIDS POLICY
Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Richmond have a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy. All school personnel and volunteers are required to use the universal precautions when handling blood or any body fluids.
SPORTS
Injuries which occur while a student is participating in a sporting event or practice must be reported by the coach to the nurse on an accident report.
USE OF THE INTERNET
Roanoke Catholic School strives to prepare its students to use the latest technology. In order to use the school's Internet connection, students and parents must agree to abide by the Roanoke Catholic School Internet User Agreement. Both students and parents sign the agreement when students enter Roanoke Catholic School. Copies of the agreement form are available in the office.
