Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
“Jesus welcomed the children…and blessed them.” (Mark 10:16)
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STUDENT / PARENT
HANDBOOK
2016 - 2017
8970 Highway 23
Belle Chasse, LA 70037-2297
Phone: (504) 394 – 0757
Fax: (504) 394 – 1627
E-mail:
Website:
Table of Contents
OLPH IDENTITY & MISSION STATEMENT
OLPH VISION STATEMENT
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
Admission
Order of Admission
Registration
ATTENDANCE
DISMISSAL
BEFORE / AFTER SCHOOL CARE
HEALTH AND INSURANCE
BUS TRANSPORTATION
CAFETERIA PROGRAM
EMERGENCY / CRISIS PROCEDURES
CURRICULUM
Reading Program
Tests/Quizzes
Standardized Tests
Grading System
Honor Roll
Busy Bee Awards
Homework Policy
Release of Records
Books / Resource Material / Supplies
Library
Responsible and Ethical Use of Computers, Technology, and the Internet
Computer Usage Outside of OLPH School
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Mission Club
Student Council
Athletics
4-H / Clover Buds
Band
Special Interest Clubs
HOME / SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS
Monthly Calendar / Menu
Letters and Notices
Phone Numbers / E-mail addresses
OLPH Website
Automated System
CO-OP CLUB
PARENT - TEACHER RELATIONS
Parent - Teacher - Student Conferences
Appearances before the OLPH School Board
UNIFORM POLICY
Girls' Uniform
Boys' Uniform
Shoes / Socks
Winter Wear: Sweatshirts / Jackets / Sweaters
Dress Code Violations
DISCIPLINE
Detention
Suspension
Probation
Expulsion
TUITION AND FEES
Fee Schedule for 2016-2017
Late/Delinquent Financial Matters
Tuition Assistance
MISCELLANEOUS
School Bookstore
Lost and Found Articles
Messages / Telephone / Cell Phones
Possessions Brought to School
Parties / Gifts / Seasonal Celebrations
School / Business Partnerships
Field Trips
Cafeteria Usage
Bicycles / Scooters / Skateboards / Skates
Gum / Candy
NSF Checks
Search and Seizure Policy
Addendum #1: Counseling Program Professional Disclosure Statement
Addendum #2: AHERA
Addendum #3: Sickness Policy
Addendum #4: Pre-Kinder Potty Policy
CO-OP OFFICERS / SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS / FAIR CHAIRPERSONS
Co-op Officers
School Board Members
Fair Chairpersons
LIVING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS THROUGH GOSPEL VALUES
OLPH IDENTITY & MISSION STATEMENT
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, is a parochial Catholic elementary school serving children in grades Pre-Kindergarten through seven. Founded in 1959, our small school community continues to be a vital part of the total church parish ministry.
Mission: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School provides a Catholic Faith based, challenging education with significant opportunities to prepare students to be successful citizens now and in the future in order to help others reach new experiences.
OLPH VISION STATEMENT
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is a parochial Catholic elementary school serving children in PK3 through seventh grades. Founded in 1959, our small school community continues to be a vital part of the total church parish ministry.
Our mission at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is to teach as Jesus did by:
emphasizing Gospel values in the Catholic faith tradition;
providing quality education in a joyful, loving atmosphere;
nurturing the growth of the whole child in partnership with families;
challenging students to become life-long learners.
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
"Jesus welcomed the children...and blessed them." (Mk. 10:16)
We believe Catholic education at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is an integral part of the total parish community's ministry. Our school provides a unique Catholic Christian environment where the Gospel message of Jesus is found throughout the whole curriculum. In the school faith community, parents and teachers model their belief in Jesus, the greatest teacher. Our Lady of Perpetual Help strives to impart Gospel values, build community, foster prayer, and reach out in service.
We believe children are gifts from God, worthy of love and respect. God has blessed them with individual talents and abilities. Our vocation as parents and teachers is to help form the whole child, academically and spiritually. Working together, we provide quality education in a loving, joyful atmosphere. Our students learn the knowledge and life skills required of adult citizens. They are formed in the Gospel values that will help them grow as active, faith-filled members of the Church.
We believe our students must grow in accepting responsibility. They must face the challenge to develop their potential. We believe they must become life-long learners.
Developed (1991) and re-affirmed annually by representatives of the total school community
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL MOTTO
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
Admission
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, which is a state approved and nationally accredited school, admits students of any race, color, nationality and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin in administration of our educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Additionally, in compliance with Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, no person in the school shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity except as permitted under said Title IX.
Required ages for admission:
PK3: 3 years of age by September 30
PK4: 4 years of age by September 30
Kindergarten: 5 years of age by September 30
Order of Admission
Class size will be limited to the state's maximum allowable enrollment or less.Students will be selected on the following basis:
1. Brothers and sisters in OLPH;
2. Children of OLPH parishioners and alumni;
3. Catholics from outside of OLPH parish;
4. All others on a first come, first served basis.
Registration
Birth certificate, current immunization records, and social security card must be presented at the time of registration. Children who have attended school elsewhere must present the latest report card and standardized test results. Catholic students need to submit sacramental records for Baptism, Reconciliation and First Communion. School copies will be made of these records. Originals will be returned to the parents.
Returning Students - Registration of returning students consists of turning in the registration slip and fee during the appointed days.
New Students - All new students registering for grades PK3 through seven will be accepted only after an interview with the student, parent / guardian, and the principal; a review of past records; and approval of the principal. New students are accepted provisionally on a trial basis for a period not to exceed three months.
Transfer Students - Students who transfer to OLPH during the school year must bring a copy of an up-to-date report card. Admission may be delayed or denied if records are not received promptly. Students who transfer from another Catholic school must bring certification that tuition at the previous school has been paid.
Students who transfer from OLPH during the year must return all school-owned textbooks and library books in good condition. Once all tuition payments and fees have been paid, teachers will calculate grades for the report card. Cumulative records will be sent to the new school shortly after the transfer.
No new 7th graders will be accepted after the first nine week period. A possible exception could be if a new family moves into the Belle Chasse area.
ATTENDANCE
In order to be eligible for promotion, it is necessary for a student to be in attendance a minimum of 160 days a school year in accordance with State adopted policies for non-public schools. There are 177 instructional days in the OLPH calendar, according to Archdiocesan policy. Regular school attendance is of the utmost importance to maintain continuity of learning. In addition, the attendance record is part of each child's permanent record.
The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. Teachers will be on duty in the school yard beginning at 7:45 a.m. to supervise students. Before school care is provided from 6:45 - 7:45 a.m. All students on the campus before 7:45 a.m.must report to before school care, and regular fees and policies will apply. No students may be on school property prior to 6:45 a.m. OLPH is not responsible for children prior to 6:45 a.m.
Absences are excused (but still counted) in the case of student illness or if there is a death in the family. Children who are checked out by parents or their designee before 10:00 a.m. are considered absent for the day. Students who arrive after 10:00 a.m. or who depart before 2:00 p.m. will be counted a half-day absent.
Prior notification must be given to the office if a child is to be checked out early since such dismissals are disruptive to the schedule of the student, the class, and the school. To be checked out early, students are asked to bring a note from the parent which states the reason and the time of check-out. Any early checkout should be completed before 2:55 p.m. After that time, students will be dismissed at the regular time.
When a student is absent, parents are to call the office before 9:00 a.m. and give the reason for the absence. In addition, on the day the student returns, he / she must bring a dated, written note signed by a parent (or guardian) stating the reason for the child's absence to be kept on file. Any request by parents to pick up work from school must be made at the time the absentee call is made. Work will be gathered by the teacher and may be picked up in the school office between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. or in After School Care before 5:30 p.m.
After an excused absence, it is the STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY to contact the teacher to determine what make-up work will be required. Students absent on the day that a test is given are responsible for taking a make-up test the day they return to school if they were in school the day before the test. They must take the make-up test the day after their return if they were not in school the day before the test. Students who were absent for more than 3 days should make up all missed tests within 5 school days of their return. Failure to make up a test will result in the student being given a "U" for that test.
In the event that the student has had a communicable disease, he / she must submit a physician's certificate stating that he / she may again attend school. Students who have been absent for 5 or more days must also submit a physician's certificate.
Absences of convenience and/or early dismissals are for such things as trips with the family, days before or after a holiday, or pursuit of personal talent or interest. For absences of convenience, tests and work may be made up only at the discretion of the principal and the teacher. Notification of the need for an absence of convenience must be given 5 days prior to the date and be discussed with the principal. This time out of school is counted against your child’s attendance.
Students are considered tardy when arriving after 8:15 a.m. and once the front school doors are closed after classes have left the assembly area. Tardy students must report to the office for an admittance slip. After a student has been tardy three times, he / she will be assessed an escalating fine ($1 for 3 tardies, $2 for 6 tardies, etc.) Teachers may also impose classroom consequences.
Those students who are tardy or checked out early five or more times will not be eligible for perfect attendance at the end of the year.
Students are considered to be truant when their absences, tardiness, or early check-outs are habitual and unexcused. The school will contact the parents/guardians after three instances in a month to correct this condition. If the attendance problem persists, the student and parents/guardians will be reported to the Plaquemines Parish Truancy Officer for further action after five instances.
DISMISSAL
Dismissal begins at 3:15 p.m. In the interest of safety, we ask parents to observe the following rules:
- Notify the office IN WRITING if a child is to follow a different routine than normal at dismissal. Phone calls to the office during the day to alert students about transportation home are strongly discouraged except in the case of an emergency. The safety of your child is at stake! PLEASE SEND A DATED, WRITTEN NOTE FOR CHANGES.
- Bus students are dismissed first from the classroom.
- Students whose parents pick them up or who go home on their own are dismissed after bus students. Parents are asked to await these students in their vehicles or on the sidewalk in front of church.Parents may not pick up their students from the back doors of school. For safety reasons, if you park your vehicle, please park in the parking lot between the church and the KC Hall. Do not gather in the school lobby or entry way. Sidewalks and crosswalks should be used at all times.
- In rare instances, if a parent must sign out a child early, this must be done in the school office by 2:55 p.m.
- After 3:30 p.m., any child who is not picked up will be sent to After School Care, where policies and fees apply.
BEFORE / AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Before school care is available from 6:45 - 7:45 a.m. Any student who is on campus prior to 7:45 MUST report to before care. After school care is available from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. on full days of school. Also, students not picked up on time after any activity must go to after care where charges will apply. All rules regarding good behavior and respect apply in before / after care.
The registration fee is $5.00 per family. Rates for before / after school care are $4.00 per family per hour. A penalty charge of $1.00 per minute per child is charged for anyone remainingafter 6:00 p.m. No students may be on school property prior to 6:45 a.m.
HEALTH AND INSURANCE
Parents are required to indicate in writing any chronic illness and/or allergies the child may have and any special treatment the child may require. Students requiring medication must bring this from home with written directions from the parent. All medicine, including over-the-counter cough drops, will be kept in the office. Although we will keep medicine in the office for safety reasons, OLPH School does not provide medical services.
Up-to-date immunization records should be sent to the office. Students who are not properly immunized will not be allowed to attend school until the immunizations required by the state health department are received.
Every student is covered by accident insurance while in attendance at school and traveling to and from school. The coverage is also extended to before and after school care and school-sponsored athletic activities. In addition, full time (twenty-four hour) protection may be purchased. Contact the school office for information about this insurance.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Bus transportation for the Belle Chasse area is provided for the convenience of parents and students by Plaquemines Parish for students ages 4 and above. Cooperation, courteous behavior, and safe riding practices are necessary at all times.
Bus drivers and Plaquemines Parish make rules and regulations for the safe and proper operation of their buses. Students must obey these regulations. They are to be properly seatedand converse in normal tones. No food or beverages may be consumed on the bus. Cell phones or other personal electronic devices may not be used on the bus. No rolling school bags are allowed on the bus. Additional rules are distributed by Plaquemines Parish Transportation Department. Students who are reported for violations of bus rules and regulations are subject to the consequences outlined by Plaquemines Parish Transportation Department and / or disciplinary actions as determined by OLPH. Parents and students are responsible to know and adhere to these policies.
IN ORDER TO RIDE A DIFFERENT BUS HOME, a note with the parent's signature must be presented to the school each time a change of bus is required. In situations where the change will be permanent, as for example, a weekly Scout meeting, a single note stating the weekly date will suffice. If for some reason a student is not to ride the bus home, parents must send a dated note stating this each time the routine is interrupted.
CAFETERIA PROGRAM
OLPH participates in the Federal Food Service Program provided by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Breakfast (for those arriving between 7:45 to 8:05) and lunch are both served daily. Students are required to eat lunch. Exceptions may be made with approval from the principal for medical or religious reasons. Please refer to the separate handout provided by the cafeteria manager for further details regarding costs, menus, etc. The monthly menu for breakfast and lunch is also posted on the school website in the calendar section.
Students not eating the school lunch must bring lunch from home. Parents are encouraged to pack a nutritious lunch. Milk, water, or juice may be purchased in the cafeteria. NO soft drinks or fast foods are allowed. NO gum or candy is allowed in lunches or snacks.