Policies

Mass Visitors Arrival/Dismissal

Lunches Attendance Cell Phones

Uniforms

MASS

School liturgies are held once a week, usually at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. On holy days, the school will attend the 12:10 p.m. Mass. Attendance and participation is mandatory of all children attending St. Charles School. It is one way of forming our faith community.

REPORTING TO THE OFFICE-VISITORS

All visitors, this includes parents coming to drop something off, must check in at the school office first. This policy is for the safety of all who work and study on these premises.

Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

October 9th

    Parents can drop off students on the passenger side of the car in the morning. This way the students can go directly to the school sidewalk and will not be walking in front of or between vehicles.

    Parents please unload anywhere between the east end of the building (3rd grade classroom) to the concession stand door entry. In other words, 7 cars could unload at one time.   You do not have to wait to drive u to the front of the school. Waiting to be at the front leaves traffic backed up on 50th street.

    If you wish to watch your child walk into the building, simply pull out of line after drop off and position your car in one of the parking spots to watch them go inside.

    Students need to have backpacks and lunches ready to go so people don't have to wait on you to get out of the car. Don't get in line until the student is ready to unload

    If you wish to park and unload in a parking space in the middle, please escort your child to the sidewalk. be careful as you go between cars.

School starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. In the morning drop your student off at the front doors beginning at 7:45 a.m. where they will go to the gym. No child can be left unattended. Do not leave your student on the front steps prior to 7:45 a.m. If you need daycare before school we offer a before school program that begins at 7:15 a.m. Call the school office to check on enrollment in the program.
Sixth - Eighth grade pick-up is on the west side of the school. Kindergarten through fifth grade pickup is in the front parking lot. Please have your number displayed on your dashboard and the teachers will bring your child out to you. Do not go to your child's classroom to pick up your child. Kindergarten through fourth grade will be in the gym, fifth through eighth grade will be waiting in their classrooms. Please stay in the outside foyer or in the gym by the stage until 3:00 p.m.

CHANGES:

The doors into the school foyer will be closed everyday at 2:55 p.m.

Parents wishing to pick up students inside the school must go to the north end of the gym and wait there. If your child is in grades 6-8, please have your child tell his/her teacher in the morning if you wish to pick-up inside. Then your child will be sent to the gym and you may pick-up there.

No parents may come into the school between 2:55 p.m. and 3:05 p.m.

If you need to pick your child up early, please send a note that morning to inform the teacher and the office. If an emergency comes up and you must pick your child up early and haven't notified the school, please call the office before picking the child up.

All grades are included in this policy. Parents having business in the office must wait until 3:05 p.m. to come to the office.

THESE POLICIES ARE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS. EVEN IF THEY SEEM INCONVENIENT THEY ARE NECESSARY AND WILL BE ENFORCED.

In the past we have been very lax about turn in dates for various school orders, reservations, enrollment, etc. This year the due date will be enforced. Please encourage your children to give you all publications we send home. You should also check the school website, www.scbschool.org regularly to make sure you haven't missed anything.

NO NAIL POLISH!!! STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR NAIL POLISH TO SCHOOL; CHECK THE HANDBOOK. THEY MUST REMOVE IT AT SCHOOL, BUT THIS INTERRUPTS THEIR SCHOOL DAY. WE WILL START MAKING THIS A UNIFORM VIOLATION.

VISITING CLASSROOMS

Please do not disturb the classroom while class is in session or the teachers during their planning period without an appointment. Place lunch and books on the oops shelf and notify the office what is there. Make sure your child's name is on the lunch sack or notebooks.

Parents should never go to any classroom to pick up a student. Parents should go to the office and have the student paged from there. This ensures a safe environment for everyone at St. Charles and reduces classroom disruptions.

Hot Lunches

St. Charles School serves a hot lunch each full day of the school year. The lunches fulfill all the requirements of the state and federal hot lunch programs. In paying for lunch tickets, you are requested to include only lunch payment on your check. Checks should be made payable to St. Charles School. Hot lunches are $1.85 each, $37.00 for 20 lunches. Milk cards are available for $8.00 for 20 punches. Adult lunches are $2.50.

Place your payment in an envelope marked "Hot Lunch"; write your children's names and grades; and send it to the school kitchen. When there are only three punches left, your child will be given a notice. Milk tickets for those children bringing their lunch will be handled in the same manner.

Students who live near the school may go home for lunch. Parents should send a note at the beginning of the school year stating their child has permission to go home for lunch. No other student may go with them. The note will be kept on file for the school year.

No student who ordinarily eats at school may leave the school ground to buy a lunch elsewhere, unless accompanied by a parent. Parents can take only their children out to lunch, not their child's friends.

Please, no soda pops are to be brought to school for lunch, recess or snack. No glass containers are to be brought to school for recess or for lunch.

If you are going to join your child for lunch please call 789-0224 and let the kitchen know by 9:30 a.m. to be sure enough food is prepared. You may pay for your lunch when you come through the line.

Cold Lunches

Please remember to pack a healthy lunch for your child. Do not bring fast food to school for your child for lunch. Do not send soda or pop with your child for lunch. Juice boxes, capri suns, etc are acceptable.

ATTENDANCE AND EXCUSES

Tardy Policy

When a student is chronically tardy to school at least three things happen:

    1. They are not learning the skill of being a responsible and dependable worker.

    2. They start the day behind most everyone else and have trouble being in sync with the rest of the class, and

    3. They disrupt class by coming in late and take up other students' and teacher's time.

Thus, with the above in mind the following policy reads

Tardiness:

Students are required to be in class on time. Parents are responsible for insuring that their children arrive at school on time and with what materials they need for class. School starts at 8:00 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:10 a.m. All students arriving late without a proper excuse (like a Dr. appointment) will remain on the "tardy benches" outside the foyer doors. They can go to Mass with their class on Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. Other days K-4 will be let in at 9:45 a.m. recess break and 5-8 at 10:00 a.m. break. Please bring a signed note from the dentist or doctor if late for these reasons.

Absences:

Absences must be kept to a minimum to prevent students from falling behind in their classes. Please notify the office by 9:30 am if your child is going to be absent.

Dismissal From School:

Medical and dental appointments should be made outside of school hours if at all possible. If a doctor’s appointment has been made during school hours, a note should be sent to the classroom teacher so an EARLY DISMISSAL slip can be issued and the teacher can be notified of the student leaving. Parents should report to the office at the appointed time to pick up the dismissal slip. Children will be called to the office to meet their parents there. No student may leave the school grounds at any time during the school day unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Homework and Absences:

Students who are absent are expected to make up assignments within a reasonable period of time. As a general guideline, if a student is absent for one day, he/she has one day to make up the work. If he/she is gone two days, then he/she has two days to make up the work, and so on.

Homework assignments will not be available on the first day of a student’s absence. Assignments may be picked up from the teacher on the next day after school. Please do not call requesting assignments on the first day a student is absent. All homework assignments are to be picked up after school.

Absenteeism:

The following policy on absenteeism was formally adopted by the Board of Christian Education of St. Charles Parish (1-2-79).

Should a student of St. Charles School accumulate an excessive number of absences, he/she is subject to retention, or may be required to receive tutoring and/or attend summer school as a condition for promotion.

A student must be in attendance for 80% of the school year. A school year is 175 teaching days.

Vacations-Family Trips:

Do not ask teachers to prepare work ahead of time because you are going on a vacation or family trip. This is an imposition on your part to ask the teacher to do extra work. They will give you what they already have run off for the class at that time. An absence is an absence. If it is an excused absence, they will be able to make up the work just as if they were absent due to illness. If the teacher does prepare work for the student beforehand, it will be due one day after the student returns to school.

Uniforms

UNIFORM adj. 1. Never changing or varying. 2. Identical with another or others. --n. An outfit that distinguishes the wearer as belonging to a particular group.

The Gospel calls the People of God to lead simple lives. St. Charles School has its students wear uniforms for the following reasons:

1. Uniforms are an outward sign that the material wants of our society should not be a dominating concern.

2. Uniforms allow our students to lead simpler lives by not having to worry about what they will wear each day to school.

3. Uniforms are a symbol that all children who attend this school are equal--no distinction between those who have money and those who do not.

4. Uniforms allow our students freedom from the need to make unnecessary choices or have unnecessary worries, and relieves them from certain peer pressures. The children can come to school each day ready to keep their minds on their studies, and not on "What do I wear today?" Is it the “cool” thing to wear?

I. UNIFORM FOR GIRLS

*     Jumpers in grades K - 4; Skirts in grades 5 - 8

*     White blouses

*    Socks and Shoes

*    Pants and Shorts are optional and seasonal

*    For other options and specifics in colors/styles, see information that follows

II. UNIFORM FOR BOYS

*    Pants

*    Knit shirts or white oxfords

*    Socks and Shoes

*    Shorts are optional and seasonal

*    For other options and specifics in colors/styles, see information that follows

III. GENERAL - ALL STUDENTS

Students must always be in uniform. In case of emergency, send a note to school explaining why the child is out of uniform for that day.

Blouses and shirts are to be tucked in while in the school building. Students shall be well groomed. Clothes should be neat.

Make-up and nail polish are a distraction and are not to be worn to school.

In general, NO LOGOS are to appear on any part of the daily uniform. (This does not apply to shoes.)

1. Shoes:

    a. Students should wear tennis shoes. These should not be mule style shoes and should have laces or Velcro.

    b. Tennis shoes should be predominantly white, black, matching blue, or red, they should match the uniform or be of a neutral color (i.e. purple, polka dots, or other patterns not appropriate).

    c. Shoe laces are to be kept tied.

2. Socks:

a)   White or navy blue

b)   For boys --tube socks or crew sock -- When wearing shorts, socks with stripes are not appropriate.

c)   For girls -- knee socks or crew socks -- White or navy blue tights permissible during winter months.

d)   No logos

e)   Socks are to be worn at all times, including field trips.

f)    No short ankle length or shorter socks. Crew socks or longer

3. Pants:

a)   Navy blue (khaki is optional in grades 7 and 8 only)

b)   Dress or twill (due to all the variety of styles-no corduroy)

c)   No jeans

d)   Preferably purchased through uniform company

e)   Pants are optional for girls during winter months. Teachers will inform the girls when            it is appropriate to begin wearing their long pants (usually November through March.

4. Shorts (optional)

Shorts can be worn during the hot weather months -- August, September and May. If hot

weather lasts longer in the fall or starts earlier in the spring, the principal will announce when

shorts can be worn.

Shorts must be khaki and purchased from Parker Uniform or J. C. Penney’s Uniform Catalog

“Class Favorites”. No more than 3 inches above the knee. See next section.

5. Jumpers and Skirts:

a)   Jumpers are to be worn by girls in grades K - 4; and skirts are to be worn by girls in

grades 5-8. These items are to be obtained from the uniform company or the used

uniform exchange only, so that the texture and design of the material are consistent.

b)   The length of the jumpers and skirts are to be no more than three inches above the bottom of the kneecap when kneeling on the floor.

c)   Skirts should not be rolled up.

NOTE: Girls should wear shorts under jumpers or skirts for modesty reasons. These are not required to be of uniform style, and they should not visibly extend past the hemline of the jumper/skirt when sitting or standing.

6. Blouses (for girls):

a)   White, with a collar

b)   Short or Long Sleeve

c)   Buttons down front

d)   (optional) White oxford button downs

e) White knit shirts can be worn in grades 5-8.

7. Shirts (for boys):

a)   Knit polo shirts

b)   Light blue, or white

c)   No logos

d)   (optional) White oxford button down

8. T-shirts (optional):

T-shirts worn under uniform shirts or blouses must be white and they must be blank so that

nothing shows through the uniform blouse or shirt.

9. Sweaters (optional):

a)   Pullovers or cardigans

b)   Navy blue, white, or gold

c)   No logos

d)   Not to extend six inches below waist

10. Sweatshirts (optional):

Navy or gray sweatshirts with school name can be worn in place of a sweater. (Plain blue sweatshirts are NOT permissible.) This means that a uniform shirt or blouse must be worn underneath, with collar showing. These sweatshirts can be purchased in the school office.

11. Jewelry and Make up:

Students are not allowed to wear nail polish or makeup.

a)   One watch

b)   One ring

c)   A Christian religious medal on simple chain -- no other type of necklaces.

d)   Earrings (FOR GIRLS ONLY) must be small posts and are not to cover full ear lobe.

One earring per lobe. No dangling earrings.

12. Hair:

No colored hair or partial hair dyeing. No shapes, names, numbers, letters or other symbols will be allowed to be cut into the hair. Length of hair and style of hair should reflect the idea of a simple life. Since there can be so many different aspects to consider in this area, the principal will decide what is appropriate for St. Charles students.

Hair Decorations:

The color of bows, headbands, barrettes, etc., should match the colors in the girls' uniform-- navy, white, red, yellow/gold, black, or light blue. The size, material and message conveyed should be appropriate. What is appropriate will be decided by the school as problems arise. Special holiday bows in good taste are allowable (i.e., for Halloween, Christmas, etc.).

Weather Emergencies

Listen to the radio and TV announcements about St. Charles School. There will also be a chain calling of the homeroom mothers by each homeroom teacher when we dismiss for inclement weather. Listen to these stations.

KTOK 1000 AM
WKY 930 AM
KTVY CHANNEL 4
KOCO CHANNEL 5
KWTV CHANNEL 9

Even though the roads are snow covered but passable, some parents do not like to get out on the icy roads. Feel free to arrive an hour later when traffic is less or snow has had a chance to melt. We will have school with whomever arrives that day.

Cell Phones

No cell phones will be brought to school by students in backpacks or otherwise. If one needs to bring one to school for some “business” after school, the cell phones need to be checked into the school office for the day and picked up at the end of the day. This policy will help insure prevention of theft of cell phones or their improper use during the school day.

Extended Care

St. Charles Borromeo

Extended Care Policies and Procedures

Operating Hours: 3:00-6:00 every day that school is open. Extended care does close for Carnival, Christmas Program, Auction and the Spring Play. Extended care is for St. Charles students only. We welcome all students from Kindergarten to Eighth grade.

Enrollment Fee: $55.00 per child due at the time of enrollment. ($110.00 per family maximum.)

Hourly Rate: $3.00 per hour with a $40.00 per week max.

Drop-In Rate: Pick up time is 3:00! Any child not picked up by 3:15 will be sent to extended care. You will be charged a minimum of $10.00 for the first hour and then the normal hourly rate of $3.00 per hour. PAYMENT IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR CHILD, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE SPENT A FEW MINUTES OR A FEW HOURS WITH US. Any child dropping in more than three times will be expected to enroll and pay the $55.00 enrollment fee.

Payments: Payments are due every Friday. Unless prior arrangements have been made, a late fee of $10.00 will be added to past due accounts. If more than $40.00 in late fees accrues, your child’s Extended Care attendance will be suspended until payment is made in full.

Checking Out: To ensure the accuracy of your account, it is very important that your child is checked out each day. Extended Care will not edit an account.

Pick Up: Please be sure that your child never leaves without checking out with an Extended Care staff member. Extended Care will convene in different areas dependant on weather and school functions. If weather is nice you might expect to pick up your child on the play ground. During winter months or inclement weather you should expect to find us in the gym or basement.

Late Pick Up: Any person authorized to pick up your child should be made aware that Pick up time is 6:00! There will be a late fee of $10.00 for any child picked up after 6:01. In addition to the late fee there will be a $1.00 per minute charge beginning at 6:05. The late payment is due when you or anyone else picks up your child.

Discipline: Extended Care follows the rules and guidelines for discipline as set forth in the student handbook.

Homework: Children in second grade and older are encouraged to do their homework while attending extended care. When possible we provide them with the help they may need but parents still need to check homework.

Snack: Extended Care provides a nutritious snack daily. However, if your child is a "picky eater: you are encouraged to send them with a snack. Children staying after 5:00 tend to get hungry. You may want to send them an extra snack. Microwave popcorn works great. They may also bring a water bottle.

You can contact Extended Care between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 at 408-7789.

Mass	Visitors	Arrival/Dismissal
Lunches	Attendance	Cell Phones
Uniforms