Attendance/Absence

It is the parent’s responsibility to make certain the student is present whenever in session.  Regular attendance and punctuality promote and attitude of responsibility toward schoolwork, support the student in the learning process through regular interaction with teachers and peers, and allow the student to maintain a standard of academic achievement.

In the event it becomes absolutely necessary for a student to be absent, the following guidelines need to be followed:

1. A parent or guardian telephones the school office by 8:45 AM to report that the student will be absent
   1. State the child’s full name, grade and reason for absence.  This should be done each day the child is absent even if the days are consecutive.
   2. If the school office does not receive a documented reason for absence, a telephone call from the school will be made to the home.
2. On the first day the student returns to school, a note signed by the parent or guardian, explaining the reason for absence, must be turned in to the homeroom teachers.  Students who are unable to produce satisfactory evidence of sickness or other urgent reason for absence will be considered truant.  Students who are absent without excuse for three days or their equivalent shall be reported to the local attendance officer to enforce the state’s compulsory school law provision.
3. Students who have special health conditions that cause frequent or repeated absence from school, even though the days absent are not consecutive, must have a letter from their family doctor verifying and explaining the reason for such absence.
4. Student who are absent for more than twenty (20) days a year for whatever reason (except for special health conditions) will not be issued a report card or achievement marks until work has been made up through summer school, or make up assignments as approved by the principal outside of regular class assignments.
5. Each full day of school is composed of two sessions, the AM and the PM session, (184 days – 368 sessions per year).
6. Students who are dismissed from school before 10:30 AM are marked absent for the whole day; between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, for one half day.
7. Car riders and walkers are considered late after 8:20 AM and must be accompanied to the office by a parent.  A one point disciplinary slip will be issued for lateness.

Absence for Vacation

Parents are strongly discouraged from removing children from school for vacation.  If, after weighing the seriousness of loss of academic progress, the parent considers it necessary to request and extended absence from class, the parent must complete and file an extended absence form with the principal at least one week prior to the absence.  These arrangements must be made in person by the parent.  Such request will not be approved for the first 10 days of school, during examination periods or standardized test periods.  Vacations will not be approved for more than 5 consecutive school days.

Make Up Work (due to vacation absence)

Make up work is the responsibility of the parent and the student.  No teacher should be expected to provide special instruction to the student.  This work will be given when the student returns to school after a vacation absence.  Work/tests are to be completed within 3 days of the return of the student to school.  Any work not completed will be recorded as a failure.  The faculty will not be responsible for academic failure due to a vacation absence.

Doctor/dental Appointments

Late arrivals and early dismissals due to medical appointments are discouraged.  When this is unavoidable, parents must send a note to the homeroom teacher the day before a late arrival is planned, or the morning of the day the early dismissal is required. 

Morning appointments will necessitate a student being marked late (but excused); early dismissals for appointments may result in a student being marked absent (but excused) for the afternoon session.

In the case of an early dismissal parents are not to go to the classroom.  The student will be sent for and will meet the parent in the school office.  This procedure causes as little disruption as possible for other students and the classroom teacher.

Daily Schedule

All early dismissal days are 12:00 noon.

Dismissal

To ensure the safety of all, car riders, walkers and extended care are dismissed first.  Bus riders will be called second.

Students leaving by car will be escorted across Second Street along the crosswalk to the parking lot.  All car riders must be picked up in the parking lot.  Parents are requested to inform students in the morning of any transportation changes.

Students walking home are expected to follow the school’s disciplinary code.  Rules of conduct in effect at school are in effect when walking home from school.  Students displaying any type of misbehavior are subject to the same consequences as applicable at school.

A written note must be submitted to the main office if a student changes his/her normal dismissal procedure.

Bus Policy

At the bus stop:

1. Be on time, but no earlier than 5 minutes.
2. Respect the rights of property owners.
3. Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children before the bus arrives.

On the bus:

Safety and proper behavior while riding the school bus is a responsibility, which must be shared by all concerned: students, parents, and school administrators.  Parents shall instruct their children that they must obey the Bus Code of Conduct and encourage “would be” violators to do the same.  Sacred Heart School has adopted the following Bus Code of Conduct:

All students being transported by bus shall not:

1. Smoke, or possess smoking paraphernalia.
2. Eat, or drink on the bus.
3. Engage in scuffling, fighting or other acts of misbehavior.
4. Possess any illegal or drug paraphernalia.
5. Possess weapons of any kind
6. Use profane or indecent language.
7. Regulate windows unless permitted by the driver.
8. Extend any part of their bodies out the window.
9. Stand, or walk while the bus is in motion.
10. Place books, gym bags, or other articles in the aisle.
11. Vandalize the bus or personnel property of others.
12. Behave in any manner, which would engage the health, safety or welfare of other students or the driver.

Sacred Heart School reserves the right to suspend or terminate a student’s busing privileges.  At a minimum, a first offense will result in a letter of warning being mailed to the student’s parents.  A second offense will result in a suspension of up to three days of busing privileges.  A third offense may result in a partial or full suspension of busing privileges.

Each student must ride the same bus to and from school continually throughout the school year.  Only students residing in their respective school district may ride school district buses.

School Code of Conduct (Grades 1-8)

Academic Offenses:

Grades 1, 2, 3

Any accumulation of 6 academic points in a quarter will result in a recess or lunch detention.

Grades 4 through 8

Any accumulation of 5 academic points in a quarter will result in an after school detention.

Academic Offense – Level 1 (1 academic point)

1. Incomplete homework (less than 100%) for each subject area.
2. Incomplete class work.

Academic Offense – Level II (2 academic points)

1. No attempt at homework.
2. Not prepared for class.
3. Doing homework in school.

Behavioral Offenses

1. All offenses will be treated on an individual basis and could result in a school team conference with possible suspension or expulsion as a result.
2. A warning letter will be sent home if a student approaches the necessary number of points for detention.
3. Cheating on a test will result in a failure on that test for each student involved.
4. The discipline code is in effect for all school sponsored extracurricular activities.
5. In certain Level IV offenses, a Real Justice conference will convene with all parties affected by the offense.
6. Any student who accumulates enough points to result in 2 detentions in one quarter will be excluded from all school related extra curricular activities, including field/class trips for that quarter.

Bullying Statement

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power and strength. Bullying includes:

• Name calling
• Making things up to get you into trouble.
• Hitting, pinching, biting, pushing, shoving.
• Taking things away from another student.
• Damaging another's belongings.
• Stealing money.
• Taking friends away from another student.
• Spreading rumors.
• Threats and intimidation.
• Making silent and abusive phone calls.
• Sending offensive phone text.
• Posting insultin messages on the internet or by IM.

In certain offenses, a Real Justice conference will convene with all parties affected by the offense.

Grades 1, 2, 3

Any accumulation of 6 behavioral points in a quarter will result in a recess or lunch detention.

Grades 4 and 5

Any accumulation of 5 academic points in a quarter will result in an after school detention.

Grades 6,7, &8

Any accumulation of 4 academic points in a quarter will result in an after school detention.

Behavioral offense – Level I (1 behavioral point)

1. Misbehavior (talking or other disturbing behavior)
2. Tardiness to Class
3. Loitering
4. Running in building or grounds.
5. Improper Uniform (see dress code)
6. Unsigned document (1 point per day) except in extenuating circumstances.
7. Uncovered books.
8. Chewing gum or eating outside the cafeteria
9. Taking property without permission.
10. Failure to follow directions.
11. Writing or passing notes.
12. Removing school or classroom property without permission.
13. Disorganized work area.

Behavioral offense – Level II (2 behavioral points)

1. Improper Language
2. Improper gestures
3. Inappropriate touching
4. Frequent or constant misbehavior
5. Improper writing
6. Copying someone else’s work (both students involved)
7. Talking or other distracting behavior during testing.
8. Littering on school grounds.
9. Disrespect to peers (teasing, name calling, etc)

Behavioral offense – Level III (3 behavioral points)

1. Petty Vandalism – minor damage
2. Forging signatures
3. Disrespect to faculty or staff
4. Cheating on tests
5. Skipping class
6. Harassment
7. Aiding a level III Offense
8. An Unwarranted act affecting the safety of others (hitting another student)
9. Skipping detention
10. Disobedience
11. Disorderly conduct
12. Lying
13. Possession of inappropriate material
14. Verbally threatening another student.

Behavioral offense – Level IV (4 behavioral points)

1. Theft – do not allow children to bring valuables, or large sums of money to school.
2. Possession of a controlled Substance (i.e. Drugs, Alcohol)
3. Fighting or Assault with bodily injury
4. Physically threatening another student
5. Vandalism (major damage)
6. Possession of contraband
7. Insubordinate or abusive language
8. Possession or use of a tobacco product
9. A serious or unwarranted act affecting the safety of others
10. Possession of weapons of any kind (including toy weapons)
11. Leaving school property without permission
12. Commission of a crime on school property.
13. Harassment

Change of Address/Telephone Number and Emergency Cards

Change of address, telephone numbers (home or business), or emergency contact persons, should be reported to the school office immediately.  The emergency card received during the first week of school must be completed and returned without delay.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled before the first marking period and first report card, before the third marking period and third report card.  Parent/Teacher conferences are highly encouraged.  Communicate the concern in writing to the teacher.  The teacher will contact the parent by telephone or in writing.  If necessary, a conference time will be scheduled.  Generally, a parent should not expect a teacher to confer with them during school hours unless special arrangements have been made.

Parent Sign-Out Log

The parent/guardian must sign the sign-out log in the main office for all students who arrive late to school and for early dismissals, including early dismissals because of illness, and for those students serving detention.

Medication

Teachers and support staff are prohibited from administering medication to students.  If a child needs medication during school hours, please contact the school office to make arrangements.

Court Orders

The school voluntarily complies with provision of the Buckley Amendment:  “Non-custodial parents will be given access to unofficial student records and staff will be available to discuss the students records, unless a Court Order providing otherwise is filed with the school.”

Health

It is imperative that all children entering school for the first time be properly immunized.  Please check all immunization records with your family doctor.  NO CHILD WILL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT REQUIRED IMMUNIZATION.

As part of our health program, all new pupils entering kindergarten or 1^st grade are required to have a thorough physical and dental exam.  The schedule is as follows:

Your family doctor and dentist may do these exams, if preferred.

NOTE:

1. After 3 days of illness a doctor’s note is required.
2. Children need to be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school.

Student Insurance

All students enrolled at Sacred Heart School are covered by the Student/Athletic Accident Program, which is sponsored by the Diocese of Allentown.  This insurance covers injuries that occur during the day and hours when school is in session on or off the school premises.  This plan will pay usual and reasonable benefits for covered medical expenses that are not recoverable from another plan providing medical expense benefits.  The school covers the cost of the program.  A claim form may be obtained in the school office.