SPN Handbook

Technology

· Purpose

Computers are a valuable tool for education and one of this school’s purposes is to encourage the proper use of computer related technology including the Internet. Students and all users of computer technology have a responsibility to use these tools properly and in accordance with the policy below.

· Goals

To provide a variety of electronic tools to help students and teachers develop the ability to evaluate and synthesize information from a variety of sources and enable them to work effectively with various computer/communications technology.

To encourage critical thinking and problem solving skills which will be needed in this increasing electronic and global society.

· Responsibilities of User

With right of access comes the responsibility to use the source both correctly and wisely. Access to the Internet for instance, may mean that some material found will not meet guidelines set in our Acceptable Use Policy. Monitoring and controlling all such material is impossible. The school will make every effort to discourage the appearance of such material. However, the opportunities and information made available by the Internet make it necessary to provide access in order that our students can take advantage of the many resources on the information superhighway. General Guidelines for use of the Internet:

1. All users are required to take simple Internet training (how to sign on, log off, etc.) from the computer coordinator or his/her designee.
2. Only students issued passes or permission or who have completed training may use the school’s computers to access the Internet.
3. Use of the stations is limited to those who have a clear need for research, with a teacher assignment to back it up. Use will be limited if necessary.
4. Transferring copyrighted material to or from a diocesan school without express permission of the owner is a violation of Federal Law. The user is deemed responsible to see that this doesn’t occur.
5. Use of electronic mail and other Internet facilities to harass, offend, or annoy other users is strictly forbidden.
6. E-mail accounts through the school’s computer may be restricted.
7. Any attempt to circumvent system security, guess passwords or in anyway gain access to secured resources is forbidden.
8. Use of the Internet for commercial gains or profits is not allowed from an educational site.
9. Users will not move, repair, reconfigure, modify or attach external devices to the systems.
10. The system operator has the right to monitor all activities.
11. Additional rules and restrictions may be added at any time.

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· Discipline

Violations of these rules will be dealt with by the administration of the school. Student rules:

1. For reasons of personal safety, students will NEVER post personal contact information about themselves or other people. This may include address, telephone number, school address, etc.
2. Students will not access material that is profane or obscene (e.g. pornography) or that advocates illegal acts, violence or discrimination towards other people.
3. Students will not plagiarize works they find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were one’s own.
4. Students will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude or threatening language. Nor will they through means of the Internet, harass or annoy any other users.
5. Students will not knowingly or recklessly post false information about a persons or organizations.
6. Students will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt computer systems, or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.
7. The illegal downloading of copyrighted software for use on home and school computers is prohibited.

Violation of these rules may result in any or all of the following:

1. Loss of Internet access.
2. Disciplinary or legal action by the school or other involved parties.

Transportation

The school or the Archdiocese of Philadelphia reserves the right to amend this policy.

Students come to school primarily on buses but some students walk, some come by car, and some ride their bicycles. Please adhere to the following guidelines concerning these methods of transportation.

· Buses

Children riding buses must ride regularly to and from school on their assigned buses. The conduct of the students to and from school on these buses is an important part of our total school program. All students should show cooperative, courteous, Christian behavior. Poor conduct jeopardizes the safety of all persons on the bus. Maintaining good order on the buses requires the cooperation of students, parents, teachers and bus drivers.

The school cooperates with the school district transportation departments in safeguarding the welfare of the students and the bus driver. Students incur on themselves suspension from riding the bus when their behavior is inconsiderate, unacceptable and detrimental to the safe operation of the bus. The school will notify parents in advance of any suspension from riding the bus.

Buses may not be used for transportation to Cub Scouts, parties, playtime, etc. If a daycare emergency occurs, please call the transportation department to arrange travel. Then, send written notification for the approved travel arrangements with your child – a copy for the teacher and a copy for the bus driver. All requests must be submitted before noon on the day of the change.

Children riding the bus from one school district may not use the bus from another district due to insurance concerns.

· Walkers

Students walking to and from school should do so along the safest routes, observing proper safety rules for pedestrians. A crossing guard is on duty at some corners. Please have the students cross at these corners. If there is no crossing guard, call the town or borough office to report this.

Students walking to school must have a letter stating the names of the students and the fact that they have permission to walk to and from school. If children walk only on certain days or if they go somewhere other than home, please indicate this in the letter.

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· Private Cars

Morning: Parents who bring their children to school by car should either park in the large playground and walk their children to the school entrance OR drop them off at the entrance to the main building if no buses are dropping off students. No one may block the buses nor park or double park in the front of school at the opening and closing of the school day.

Afternoon: Parents should park in front of the preschool building or in the large playground. When buses leave, parents may pull up to the front of the main building where the teachers will guide the students to the cars. No cars may block the alley nor obstruct the arrival and departure of buses.

If parents regularly drop off/pick up their children in lieu of bus transportation, they must submit a note to the school office indicating the student’s name and the days that this mode of transportation will be used. Parents must sign such a notification.

· Bicycles

Students should know and practice safety rules before being permitted to use this method of transportation. This is the parent’s responsibility to determine their child’s readiness to ride a bicycle to school. If your child will regularly ride his/her bicycle or will ride it for a period of time, please notify the school in writing. State the student’s name and dates (or time period, e.g. days in September, free from rain, etc.) and include your signature.

Bicycles should be locked onto the bike rack in the small parking lot.

All these precautions are for your child’s well being. We want to be sure the means of transportation used are the ones agreed to by parents.

· Dismissal

Children should go home immediately after dismissal. Parents and guardians picking up students by car should wait until after the busses leave to pull up in front of the main school building. Teachers will escort the students to the sidewalk. Children whose rides have not arrived will be brought back into the school building. No children are allowed to linger in the play areas. When parents arrive after dismissal, they should come into the building to pick up their child and notify a staff member that they have arrived. Students, however, who have not been picked up by 2:45 P.M. will be placed in the C.A.R.E.S. program and families will be charged the minimum fee for use.

C.A.R.E.S. is held in the multi-purpose room in the main building.

Reminder: Any change in transportation arrangements requires proper written notification to the child’s teacher. Phone calls are not acceptable as a substitute for a written request. A letter of permission for walking, ride a bike, or go home by car must be filed with the school office.

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Tuition & Fees

Registration for the fall of 2003-2004 was conducted in the spring of 2003. Presently registration fees are:

One child $75.00

Two children $100.00

Three or more children $125.00

Book Fees for the current school year cover the cost of the religion book, standardized testing and examinations. The book fee of $75.00 is on a per student basis.

A Program fee of $150.00 per family is due November 1st of each year.

Tuition is payable to the rectory. Payment should be submitted by the first of the month according to the payment schedule chosen – yearly, quarterly, or monthly – as designated on the family’s stewardship agreement form.

Fees are subject to change for the next school year. Academic records will be transferred if the family has met all financial obligations. A student’s report card will be held if tuition, school fees or fines are not paid.

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Uniforms

Parents are requested to review the condition and correctness of each student’s uniform attire. Students are required to follow uniform regulations daily. If there is a problem (shoe repair, etc.) parents should write a note to the classroom teacher. Students who do not cooperate with uniform regulations will be given a Dress Code Report and assessed for continual lack of cooperation on his/her report card.

· Girls Daily Attire

Kindergarten through Grade 4/5:

1. Jumper
2. Yellow Peter Pan collar blouse
3. Green logo cardigan sweater

The girls have the option of wearing their jumper in the fourth and fifth grade but all girls in sixth through eighth grade must wear the kilt.
Grades 4 through 8:

1. Kilt
2. Yellow button-down oxford blouse
3. Green logo sweater vest or V neck logo sweater (Cardigan not permitted with kilt.)

All girls wear green knee socks or crew socks with uniform shoes.

· Boys Daily Attire

1. Green uniform pants
2. Yellow dress shirt and uniform tie
3. Green logo sweater vest or V neck sweater

All boys wear dark socks, belts, and uniform shoes.

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· Cold Weather Options:

Boys and girls may wear a yellow turtleneck shirt with their daily uniform or gym sweatsuit. Girls wearing the jumper may wear a green logo cardigan. All girls may wear green tights with their uniform shoes. Girls may opt to wear uniform pants during the second trimester and when the weather is 50 degrees or less. Due to the cold, girls who do not wish to wear the uniform pants may wear the green gym sweatpants under their skirts or jumpers. Only the uniform sweatpants may be worn.

· Optional Summer Uniform - May be worn April 15 - October 15:

Boys and girls may wear the logo polo shirts with their daily uniform. They may also opt to wear the uniform walking shorts with the dress shirts and ties (boys) or the logo polo shirts (boys and girls). Green socks must be worn with the walking shorts.

· Shoes

Students must wear either buckled (Velcro acceptable) or laced shoes, which are usually called oxfords. All shoes must be brown, black, or blue. Shoes may not have lug soles or heals more than 3/4 inch. Students may not wear Skechers, boots, high-topped oxfords, clogs, hiking boots, or leather sneakers.

· Gym Attire

When the students have gym, the students should wear the uniform sweatsuit – pants and top – with sneakers. On cold days, the students may wear a yellow turtleneck shirt with the sweatsuit.

Sweatsuits are being switched to dark green. The switch over to dark green will take place between September 2002 and June 2004. The gym T shirt and the turtleneck may be worn with the sweatsuit.

· Gym Attire – Warm Days

Students may wear the gray logo T shirt with the green uniform logo shorts with sneakers.

Official uniforms may be purchased at Flynn & O'Hara:

Valley Plaza Shopping Center
1876 Catasauqua Road
Allentown, PA 18109
610-231-3788

For other store locations or to order by phone, contact Flynn & O'Hara at 800-441-4122.
Order may also be placed online: www.flynnohara.com.

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· SPECIAL NOTES

1. NO body piercing or tattooing is allowed. Piercing one’s ears is permitted under the parameters set below.
2. Girls may not wear dangling earrings, rings, make-up, hair color or detractive attire. Only one set of earrings may be worn. Only clear nail polish may be worn.
3. Boys may not wear any earrings. Haircuts may not be detractive as determined by the school administration and faculty. Neither designs nor tails may be worn. No hair may rest on the boys' collars.
4. Students may wear ONE scapular or religious medal and one watch. No other jewelry may be worn.
5. No student may change hair color or have distracting haircuts.

· Dress Down Days

Students may dress down, wearing jeans and a polo shirt, blouse, or T shirt on his or her birthday. In hot weather a pair of shorts may be worn. The shorts must cover the thigh. No article of clothing may be worn if it is torn or cut-off. It may not bear any offensive language or image as determined by the faculty and administration of the school. All attire for such days must be modest in light of the school’s Catholic nature and philosophy.

1. Children having summer birthdays may celebrate their birthday in June.
2. If the child's birthday falls on a weekend, he/she can choose either the Friday before or the Monday after the birthday, or first school day of the week if there is a holiday.
3. Children will receive a Dress Down Day Card if their parent atttends a general meeting of the Home & School Association. Jr. High students who sign-up to provide baby-sitting services on Home & School General Meeting nights will receive a dress down day card.
4. Other dress down days will be announced at the discretion of the Principal.

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