Mater Dolorosa Catholic School
509 Pine Street - P.O. Box 380
Independence, LA 70443
Phone (985) 878-4295
Fax (985) 878-4888
PARENT AND STUDENT HANDBOOK
2012 - 2013
EAGLES’ PRIDE
Rev. Howard Adkins Linda P. Wisinger
Pastor Principal
Principal’s Letter ______3
Introduction 4
SCHOOL MOTTO 4
MISSION STATEMENT 4
STATEMENT OF PHILOSPHY 4
Accretidation 4
ADMISSION 5
New Admissions 5
Pre-Kindergarten Admissions 5
Kindergarten Admissions 5
First Grade 5
New Student Documentation 5
Registration 6
TUTION FINANCED 7
SCHOOL HOURS 7
ARRIVAL/ DISMISSAL 7
Arrival 7
Dismissal 8
Dismissal Bell 8
Early Check Out 8
ATTENDANCE 8
DISCIPLINE 10
Classroom Management Plan
General School Rules
Gym Rules – Before Morning Assembly
Hallways - Before Rainy Day Morning Assembly
Playground/Recess Rules
Cafeteria Rules
Bus Rules
Hallway Rules
DIOCESAN SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY 16
SEARCH AND SEIZURE POLICY 16
DRESS CODE
BOYS 17
GIRLS 19
GRADING SYSTEM/PROMOTIONAL POLICY 22
GRADUATION 23
HONOR ROLL 23
HOMEWORK 24
LUNCH ROOM 24
HOME & SCHOOL 25
IMPORTANT INFORMATION 26
HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ______27
Mater Dolorosa School
509 Pine Street
P.O. Box 380
Independence, LA 70443
Principal’s Letter
AUGUST 2012
Dear Parents and Students,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Mater Dolorosa School for the 2012-2013 school year. We are very pleased to have you as part of our Mater Dolorosa School family- a family with a long and proud tradition of serving the Independence community. As a parent, one of the most important decisions in your life and in the lives of your children is choosing the education that will most benefit them. We are grateful for your vote of confidence in choosing Mater Dolorosa Catholic School.
In looking forward to the upcoming year, I am pleased to send you this Parent/Student Handbook for the 2012-2013 school term. This hand book provides the rules and policies of the school stating our expectations for you and your child, as well as our responsibilities as a Catholic Institution. This handbook serves as a legal and binding agreement between students/parents and Mater Dolorosa Catholic School. Please read it with your children and discuss anything that they do not understand. We do reserve the right to amend this handbook during the school year. You will be notified in our weekly newsletter of any changes that may occur.
The success of the school year depends greatly on effective communication and cooperation between the home and school. It is imperative that we work together. Studies have shown that the more involved parents are in their child’s school life, the more apt a child is to succeed. Please come and work with us. Help us to build fellowship. Join Home and School and be enthusiastic. Help your child to do his/her best by becoming an active participant in the Mater Dolorosa School family.
God has bestowed many blessings on this school: years of fine traditions and learning, people who truly love this school community, and a uniqueness that very few schools have in this modern world. May these blessings become opportunities for us to share of ourselves in the love and service of our Lord.
God bless all of you,
Linda P. Wisinger
Principal
INTRODUCTION
The administration, faculty, and staff of Mater Dolorosa Catholic School strive to educate each child. By providing quality academic education, we endeavor to prepare our students for future study and to provide them with a foundation of skills and knowledge needed for a successful life. Even more importantly, we are committed to the goal of instilling strong Christian values in our students. We strive to provide a school where love of God and others is emphasized.
Mater Dolorosa Catholic School has a long history of quality Catholic education. We are truly grateful to the Dominican Sisters who opened the school in 1921. It is through their efforts that we have a school in our community and through the efforts of the community that it still exists. Catholic education is the responsibility of many people. We must have the cooperation of the Church, parents, and the students to keep Mater Dolorosa School the center of Catholic education in the community that it has been for so many years.
SCHOOL MOTTO
Enter to learn…Exit to serve God
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Mater Dolorosa School is to model and teach Catholic morals and values, while providing a nurturing spiritual environment that supports academic excellence and fosters lifelong leadership.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSPHY
Through our educational ministry, Mater Dolorosa works together with the parents, who are primary educators of their children, to provide each child in the harmonious environment of his/her spiritual, physical, moral, and intellectual, endowments. Our school strives to provide an atmosphere of Catholic community, integrating religion and life, so that the students may experience learning and living fully integrated in the light of faith.
Mater Dolorosa cultivates in each student a respect of self and respect of others. We strive to develop and nurture individuals by providing opportunities and experiences enabling them to demonstrate their own independence, initiative, and trust in others. We aspire to develop each student’s ability to think constructively, to choose wisely, and to take responsibility for his/her choices. We are committed to develop in each student a spirit of prayer and worship.
ACCREDITATION
School Policies and Regulations
Mater Dolorosa Catholic School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Improvement, a member of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), as well as, a parochial school within the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The school adheres to all policies and procedures contained in the Administrative Manual of the Diocese of Baton Rouge that is available for review at the school office. The Principal is the final recourse and reserves the right to revise this handbook with the approval of the Pastor. Parents will be given prompt notice. The school’s curriculum is prescribed by the Office of Education for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and is in accordance with the state regulations. Mater Dolorosa Catholic School strives for academic excellence at all levels with continuous curriculum modifications and updating of teaching methods to meet the needs of our changing times. The school abides by all regulations pertaining to the health and safety of our children. There are regular inspections for asbestos, health practices, and fire safety. The Asbestos plan and other safety reports are available in the school’s main office. It is expected that parents and guardians will reinforce these regulations throughout the year, thus ensuring a calm educational atmosphere throughout the year.
ADMISSION
The guidelines and requirements for acceptance into Mater Dolorosa School are as follows:
Preference will be given to students entering Mater Dolorosa School in the following order:
1. Students presently in attendance and their siblings
2. Registered parishioners who actively participate in church activities and financially support the church parish
3. Participating Catholics from surrounding parishes
4. All others
New Admissions
All new students are accepted on a probationary basis. Any student, new or current, placed on probation will remain as such for a 90 day period. At the end of the probation, the student’s records may be reviewed for academic or disciplinary reasons. Any students refused admission for reasons other than lack of available space may appeal the principal’s decision to the pastor of Mater Dolorosa School. THIS SCHOOL DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY STUDENT ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL AND ETHNIC ORIGIN, SEX OR CREED.
Parents requesting admission to Mater Dolorosa School for their children must schedule an interview with the principal before the registration process begins. The principal may require any or all of the following:
A. Mater Dolorosa School information form
B. Previous school academic records (Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall)
C. Standardized test scores of student (Must be above 40% percentile all subjects)
D. An interview with the student and/or parents
E. Readiness testing
F. Any other action the principal deems necessary to make a valid judgment as to the student’s potential success a Mater Dolorosa School.
Pre-Kindergarten Admissions
A child must be four (4) years of age on or before September 30th of the current year in order to enter Pre-Kindergarten. The following records must be in the students’ folder in the front office prior to the 1st day of school:
1. Birth certificate (original)
2. Baptismal certificate (if Catholic)
3. Immunization records/Current
4. Social Security Card (original)
Kindergarten Admissions
A child must be five (5) years old on or before September 30th of the current year to be eligible for Kindergarten. The above guidelines and requirements will be used.
First Grade
A child must be six (6) years of age on or before September 30th of the current year. Same records are required as for Pre-K.
New Student Documentation grades 2 through 8
1. Birth certificate (original)
2. Baptismal certificate (if Catholic)
3. Immunization records
4. Social Security card (original)
5. Standardized test scores (applies to grades 2-8)
6. Report card of previous grade (applies to grades 2-8)
** If any of the above is missing at the time of registration, the registration will be considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
Registration
Pre-registration papers are sent home in early March to determine enrollment for the following year. All current students are considered eligible for continued enrollment, unless/until their parents have been notified in writing.
All of the following must be completed before a student is considered registered:
· Payment of Registration/Enrollment fee of $300.00 no later than March 30 for returning students. This fee is Non-refundable.
· Official transcript of previous schoolwork on file in school office
· Copies of birth certificate, baptismal certificate, and social security care on file in school office
· A current immunization record on file in school office
The Registration fee will be refunded to any new child not accepted into the school for the next school year less a $50.00 processing fee. The registration fee is non-refundable if the student is accepted into the school and the parents wish to withdraw them. Current students, whose fees are not paid by the end of registration, will be dropped from the rolls. The Registration/Enrollment fee is used to cover purchases of religion books, workbooks, textbooks, individualized materials, testing programs, library fees, computer fees, media aids, technology aids, etc.
PARENT COOPERATION STATEMENT
Part of the educational philosophy of Mater Dolorosa Catholic School is the belief that the school assists the parents in carrying out their primary responsibility of providing religious and secular education for their children. Hence, Mater Dolorosa expects the parents to be involved as much as possible in the education of their children. This means not only supporting the school and participating in its activities, but also providing instruction to and examples for their children both at home and in public. While Mater Dolorosa realizes and recognizes that there may be legitimate disputes concerning educational matters, Mater Dolorosa is ultimately responsible for the orderly operation of the school in the best interest of all of its students. Therefore, the school reserves the right to terminate its relationship with a student if the parents of the student fail to provide the support, assistance, and example necessary to accomplish the school's role of assisting the parent in providing the religious and secular education the child is entitled.
Failure to abide by the regulations and policies of the school handbook by either the student or his/her parent or guardian may result in the student’s removal from the school.
TUITION FINANCED
Parents will have the option of financing student tuition with First Guaranty Bank.
All financing of bank loans must be signed no later than June 4th for returning students or a LATE FEE of $50 per student will be assessed. Your first payment will begin in accordance with First Guaranty Banks policies.
REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT FEE OF $300.00 MUST BE PAID IN FULL PRIOR TO THE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL OR STUDENTS MAY NOT BEGIN CLASS.
Parents will be notified if tuition loan payment is delinquent more than 30 DAYS. Any loan payments past due more than 45 days will result in a student being unable to attend class until all payments, late fees, etc. are paid current. All payments of tuition, registration, student fees, lunch fees, and other fees for the current session must be up-to-date in order for a student’s application to by accepted for the next academic year. When a student withdraws from school, all financial obligations must be paid in full at the time of withdrawal.
The following is a schedule of pro-rated tuition refunds for early student withdrawals.
Students who withdraw before August 31st will be refunded 90% of the original tuition amount paid. (Less the early withdrawal fee of 10% of tuition paid)
Students who withdraw any time between September 1st through Sept. 30 will be refunded 75% of the original tuition paid.
Students who withdraw any time between October 1st through October 31 will be refunded 50% of the original tuition paid.
Students who withdraw any time between November 1st through December 5th will be refunded 25% of the original tuition paid. There are no refunds of tuition fees, or registration fees in any amount for student withdrawals after December 5th of the current year. **(Inserted 11-3-2011)
A $35.00 fee will be charged for any NSF checks to the school.
SCHOOL HOURS
School hours are 7:40 AM – 2:40 PM
ARRIVAL/ DISMISSAL INFORMATION
Arrival
Breakfast: Students may not arrive on campus before 7:10 AM. Once on campus, students must report to the cafeteria for breakfast. No student will be served after 7:30. There will be no exceptions. After breakfast students will be dismissed to the gym and they will be seated by class or as directed by the duty teacher.
Arrival for all other students not eating breakfast will be 7:15-7:35 AM
Walkers and Bikers
Students that walk or ride their bikes to school should use the sidewalk.
Carpool
Parents who drop off their children by car are asked to follow the carpool line on Wilson Street (back of the school building and the ball field on rainy days). Students must unload in the designated area where school personnel provide supervision. Do not pass other cars in line. We ask that you have your children ready to unload so that the line continues smoothly. Students may not get out of the car with food and/or drink. Students are to exit the car on the passenger side. The children’s safety is of most importance. All parents are sincerely asked to follow these rules.