PHILOSOPHY The philosophy of St. Margaret's School is to accept each student as an individual. As educators, we realize that each student is a Child of God, and we have an obligation to develop in them good moral values. St. Margaret School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national and ethnic origin, age in accordance with the law, and physical or learning disability (if, within reasonable effort on the part of the school, the disable person could be accommodated). As St. Margaret's Catholic School educators, we have a special responsibility to encourage each student to achieve his/her maximum potential. We will work to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge, understanding and thoughtful formation of worthy goals. We know that you, as parents, choose to send your child to St. Margaret's Catholic School because you are in accord with the philosophy, aims and objectives of our school. Our system is a correlation between home and school. Your cooperation and involvement in the complete spiritual, mental, physical and moral development of your child will be a mutual benefit. RELIGION Religion classes and the weekly school Mass are the most important part of your child's Catholic Education. We do not take these lightly nor should you. Together we will prepare the basic foundation for your child's future as participating Catholic men and women in the life of the Church. Hopefully, the spiritual and moral standards will never leave them as they journey through life in whatever field of endeavor they choose. The school cannot accomplish this goal alone. It also must be reinforced at home with your help and encouragement through family attendance at Sunday Mass and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist as often as possible. Parents in our Christian Family, who are not members of the Catholic Church, we ask you to join with us in these efforts with moral and religious guidance. We believe that is why you have your child in our school. We hope that your child is participating in the services of your Church to help train them to be good citizens and active Christians. THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES AND LITURGICAL SERVICES, WHICH ARE PART OF OUR CURRICULUM, ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND WILL BE GRADED AS A COURSE OF STUDY. STUDENT SCHEDULE DAILY CHEDULE Beginning time Monday through Friday 7:50 AM 7:40 A.M. Door opens-- All Grades PRE K -8 Hertel Avenue (Entrance into School) 8:00 A.M. Opening Exercises Begin All Grades PRE-K –8 2:25 P.M. Bell First Dismissal Bell for ALL Grades PreK - 8 2:30 P.M. All classes will be dismissed by grade levels. This schedule allows 5 1/2 hours for grades 6 -8, and 5 hours for grades PRE K - 5. A FACULTY MEETING will be held once a month on every first Monday OF EACH MONTH. Parents must arrange to pick up their child for DISMISAL AT 11:30 p.m. or the child will be sent to our Extended Day Program and charged a fee. DISMISSAL Students will be dismissed by grade level. Pupils being driven to and from school must be dropped off or picked up in the BACK YARD or the school. Parents are asked to wait beyond the garage to avoid congestion and the possibility or accidents. When backing your car out or the parking lot, please be cautious of children going to their cars. Parents who are meeting their children are requested to REMAIN OUTSIDE the building until the children are dismissed. Please do not go into the classrooms. The teacher must follow the rules by maintaining quiet at dismissal time. Your interruption in the classroom causes noise and confusion. This is disruptive to your child's teacher and the other classes trying to maintain silence. The blocking or the halls and stairs at dismissal time are a fire hazard. After the first week, Kindergarten pupils should be able to make their way in and out or school unassisted. If you need to see your child's teacher, she will be dismissing your child outside or the building. If a student is assigned to assist a teacher after school, a parent will be notified unless a student receives a late slip. A note must accompany your child when entering School late, written by the parent and sent to the office. SCHOOL PARKING POLICY When driving the children to school and picking them up, PLEASE ENTER AND EXIT THE PARKING LOT ON SARANAC AVENUE OR COLTON STREET. DO NOT USE THE NORTH PARK AVENUE ENTRACE NO PARKING IS ALLOWED IN FRONT OF SCHOOL ON EITHER SIDE OF HERTEL AVENUE. Please park all cars in the back parking lot. Remember when you are backing you car out that children may be walking to their cars. They may be little, so be very careful. Please do not drive through the priest's garage area. Parking in the Church parking lot, on the North Park side, is reserved for teachers only, those attending church service, funerals, Lenten noon masses, etc. Safety cones will be placed in Restrictive areas. This safety policy will help us in protecting, caring and watching our children during their arrival, lunch, gym, and dismissal time. LUNCH All students are required to remain in school for lunch. Lunch may be purchased or brought from home. Lunch for each grade is 45 minutes, 25 minutes to eat and 20 minutes in the playground. All students are required to go outside. DRESS YOUR CHILD IN ACCORDANCE TO THE WEATHER REPORT IN THE MORNING. SECURITY The crash bars on the doors enable us to lock the doors on the outside and at the same time, allow freedom to leave the building at all times. During school hours, only the outside door near Hertel Avenue is for visitors to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell and wait for the buzzer to ring. Pull open the door on your left to enter the building. VISITORS All visitors entering the building must use the HERTEL ENTRANCE ONLY and report to the SCHOOL OFFICE TO RECEIVE A VISITOR PASS. Teachers or students may not be disturbed while classes are in session. If an object must be given to your child during the school day, leave it at the SECRETARY'S DESK. DO NOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE CLASSROOM. If you wish to see a teacher, please call or write a note to make an appointment. If at anytime, you need to see the Principal, call or come into school to resolve any difficulties, emergencies or questions. DRESS DOWN DAY Once a month, the students do not have to wear their uniform. For this privilege, it will cost the student $1.00. The student may wear jeans and sneakers. Shorts are NEVER allowed except for school uniform shorts. The money that is collected each month is used for prizes and awards that are given to the students throughout the year for various functions. TELEPHONE CALLS We are requesting that you DO NOT make calls to the office to give messages such as going to a grandparent's home or aunt's home etc. Class sessions will not be disturbed for phone messages. Please make arrangements in the morning before your child comes to school. We also have no proof of the authenticity of the caller. For your child's safety, please limit your calls to emergencies only. Our school telephone is on a limited line. Therefore, personal calls will be discouraged or not allowed (ex. permission to go to a friend's house). SCHOOL CLOSINGS School closings are announced on the radio, (WHEN 930, WGR 55 a.m.). Please do not call the rectory. If an EMERGENCY NECESSITATES CLOSING THE SCHOOL without advanced notice to the parents when classes are in session, your child should be informed at the beginning of the school year on WHERE THEY ARE TO GO if the parent is not at home. It is impossible for the school to contact each parent when school closings occur. If an emergency closing should occur, a neighbor, a relative, or the parent or another child should be asked, in advance, to care for your child. The EMERGENCY NUMBER FORMS are to be filled out immediately. Please list BOTH the Home and BUSINESS telephone numbers of BOTH PARENTS. Two other telephone numbers are also needed in case parents cannot be reached. These should be people who live NEAR THE SCHOOL and are ABLE TO COME to the school if your child should become ill. A person living in Tonawanda or in Hamburg, an elderly or handicapped person, or unable to drive should not be listed. ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS AND ABSENCES STUDENTS SHOULD BE ON TIME FOR THE FIRST BELL AT 7:50 A.M. All tardiness and absentees are recorded on the Permanent Record Cards. Late slips will be issued to each child that does not have a signed excuse from their parent(s). The student will remain after school and make up the class time that is missed. Health problems that are of a serious nature and/ or contagious should be reported to the school office immediately. This is a request of the Erie County Health Department. Children who are absent from school for ANY REASON MUST BRING A WRITEN, DATED EXCUSE from their parent stating the reason for their absence. No child will be allowed in class without a written excuse. The homeroom teacher keeps these notes in your child's individual folder. Children who are absent 30 days or more in the school year will repeat the grade. This is New York State Law Requirement. If a child is ill and will not be attending school, the parent is asked to call the office before 9:00 A.M. (876-8885). This will help both the parent and the school personnel to know no harm has come to your child on his/her way to school (skipped school, abducted or remained home without consent) If your child must be excused early from class, a written note, signed by the parent is needed before the child is released. The Principal is to consent to the early dismissal before the teacher Allows the student to leave school. Parents MUST PICK UP their child at the OFFICE and MUST sign in a book, the time, destination or reason, and the signature of the parent. This will assure the safety of your child. Students who have appointments with dental clinics or orthodontists should report to the office before and after the appointment. NEVER ask us to allow your child to meet you outside or to be dismissed early and go home alone. Please try to make all appointments after school or scheduled days off. REGISTRATION FEE A Registration Fee of $60.00 per student for new students entering our school is required. During Registration Week a $30.00 Registration Fee is due for all students returning the following year. This fee is collected to provide an accurate student enrollment figure for placing book orders. This fee is also applied to the student insurance costs and the new calendar and handbooks that are issued. POLICY OF RETURN AND RE-REGISTRATION Any student that transfers from our school to another school (unless moving out of the parish) will not be able to re-register in St. Margaret's School for the following semester or thereafter. The only exception to this rule is if the parents have discussed the situation with the Principal BEFORE the student's transfer was made. In the 8th grade, no new students will be admitted except a newly registered parishioner who is transferring from another Catholic Parochial School or is from a school out of state. Each student must be tested before entering. BOOK BILLS THE BOOK FEE IS $60.00 (PER CHILD)FROM GRADES 1ST THROUGH 8TH In general, the moneys for the book bills are used to provide religion books, art supplies, computer and science supplies, testing materials (standardized and reading), ditto master copies (plain and prepared), composition books, teacher supplies (plan book, registers), classroom supplies (desk blotters, chalk, erasers, board cloths, bulbs for the overhead machines, film strip and movie machines and paper for tests, notices, etc. and all workbooks not paid through the government such as spellers, phonics etc.). Book money is to be paid by SEPTEMBER 5, 2007. Payment by check, payable to St. Margaret's School, may be sent to the school office. YOUR CHILD WILL NOT RECEIVE HIS/ HER BOOKS UNTIL PAYMENT IS MADE. At no time will school records be transferred if any financial obligation is not met beforehand. TUITION IS A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. The school and rectory do not handle tuition payments. Send all tuition payments to Smart Tuition Management Service. SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT REPORT CARDS Report Cards are distributed four times a year. In January, report cards will be given to the parents at a Parent-Teacher Meeting. If a longer conference is needed, please make an appointment with the teacher. This is a special time for parents and teachers to meet. At any time during the year, a parent or teacher may request a conference in regards to a student's progress. PROGRESS / DEFICIENCY REPORTS Progress/Deficiency Reports will be sent out every five weeks. These reports will help both teacher and parent to be current on their child's ongoing progress. RETENTION OF A GRADE The teacher is the over-all evaluator of your child's progress. It will be the teacher's decision whether a student should be retained. Retention is based on poor working habits, the inability to comprehend and retain subject material with a vast need for constant reinforcement in the basics, and/ or lack of maturity. Both the parent and administration will be notified. PLEASE REFER TO OUR STUDENT DISCIPLINE HANDBOOK FOR ALL THE SCHOOL RULES AND REQUIREMENTS. HONOR SOCIETY The A.C.E. Program (Academic Challenge in Excellence) consists of students from grades 6th, 7th and 8th that have the opportunity to be selected into the Honor Society. The class is held one afternoon a week after school for 45 minutes. The criteria for this society are to be nominated by the Principal and the teachers from grades 6, 7, and 8. The student must remain on First Honor or Second Honor average of 90% and above with leadership qualities. Any student that falls below a 90% average will be dropped from the Honor Classes. SCHOLARSHIP In effort to encourage the continued scholastic achievement of our students, we give recognition to students in Grades 3 through 8. Grades 2 through 8 who are on the Honor Roll will be acknowledged each quarter; and in June they will receive Honor Certificates for maintaining a 90% and above average. Students on the Merit Roll, averages between 85% to 90%, will also be acknowledged. School Scholarships are given to 8th grade students at Graduation by Parent/Teacher Guild and the Holy Name Society. A student must be on the Honor Roll for all four quarters in grades 6, 7, and 8 to qualify. An award is also given to the boys or girls with the most improved and highest achievement for the three-year period in each subject. Our most prestigious award that is given to an 8th grade student is the Max Higgins Award. It is given to an outstanding well-rounded student. HOMEWORK Students are given homework every night and may be given on weekends. GRADES K, 1 & 2 Practice reading stories, vocabulary words, spelling and writing. No hard cover books or readers are to be taken home. GRADES 3 & 4 A minimum of one-half hour of written work in addition to studying. GRADES 5 & 6 A minimum of forty-five minutes of written work in addition to studying. GRADES 7 & 8 A minimum of one and one-half hours of written work in addition to studying. If your child consistently says he or she has no homework assignments, it may be that he or she is not doing the assignments or not working up to expectations of our standards. Parents may check by calling the office. Homework may be given over the weekends and holidays. Long-term assignments in the form of research work, book reports, essays, science or technology projects are given in grades 3- 8. Teachers allow ample time to complete these long-range projects. If a student does not take advantage of this time and does not complete the assignment on time, the student will receive a failing grade. CURRICULUM REINFORMENT Our reading program has resulted in a noticeable improvement in reading and math skills; however, we do have students who need supplementary reinforcement to improve their reading skill. Students that fall below the 3 stainine or whom the classroom teacher has suggested may benefit from advanced placement in reading and math. The Buffalo Public Schools provide resource services in Reading, Math, Guidance and Speech Therapy to aid our teachers. We also offer after school help in all subject areas. UNIFORM AND DRESS CODE FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS The uniform dress code is strictly enforced. If your child comes to school without the complete uniform, he/she will receive a UNIFORM SLIP to be signed by the parent and returned to school. A student that receives 3 slips will receive detention and a verbal communication will be made to the parent or guardian. All uniform items must have the student's name on it. Upon entering and dismissing from school, all uniforms must be intact. Out of uniform days for all students will be announced prior to the occasion such as: Picture Day, Party Days, School Spirit Days, Dress Down Days, or Field Trips Days that do not warrant uniforms. Since uniforms, blouses, slacks, sweaters and shirts are washable, they should be washed in the evening or over the weekend. There is no excuse for having a dirty blouse, shirt or uniform. It will not be accepted. Uniforms will be inspected each day immediately after opening exercises. Please take the time to teach your child proper hygiene such as taking a shower or bath daily, wash his/her hair, wash school clothes, brush teeth, use arm deodorant and change underclothes daily. GYM ATTIRE On gym days, students are to wear their regular uniform to school. The students will be given an allotted time to change into gym clothes which consists of a St. Margaret's tee-shirt and gym shorts. NO ONE will be allowed in gym class without proper uniformed gym attire. SNEAKERS are a must for gym class. Without gym attire, the student will not enter into the gym. STUDENT UNIFORMS UNIFORM FOR GIRLS GRADE KINDERGARDEN, 1, 2, 3, 4, AND 5 Plaid jumper with a white logo polo shirt, short or long sleeve. Hunter green St. Margaret logo v-neck pullover uniform sweater ONLY. Hunter green, black or white tights. Hunter green or white ankle socks or knee socks. (Socks and tights are not to be worn together.) Girls' flat dress shoes, no platform, no backless, or work boots. Flat shoes only. GIRLS GRADES 6, 7, AND 8 UNIFORM Plaid skirt, white polo shirt with St. Margaret's logo. Hunter green St. Margaret's logo v-neck pullover sweater ONLY. Hunter green, black or white tights. Pantyhose OR white or hunter green ankle socks. Socks over tights or pantyhose may NOT be worn. Girls' dress shoes, no platform, no backless, or work boots. Flat Shoes Only. UNIFORM FOR BOYS ALL GRADE LEVELS K THROUGH 8 Uniform black twill slacks, regular straight leg dress pants, NO Bugle Boys or Dockers, etc. (order from the uniform company only) Green polo shirt with St. Margaret's Logo. (uniform only) NO oversized shirts. Hunter green St. Margaret's logo v-neck pullover sweater. Belt must be worn everyday. Plain white tee-shirt must be worn underneath polo shirt (no logos or decals). Dress shoes, oxfords or loafers, no work boots, sneakers. SNEAKERS ARE TO BE WORN IN PRE K AND KINDERGARTEN ONLY FOR ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING ST, MARGARET'S SCHOOL THE FOLLOWING IS FORBIDDEN: No dyed hair or extensions. NO sculptured, bowl cut, tails, or designed haircuts. Boys' haircuts must have a length above the shirt collar. No make-up of any kind (including eyeliner, eye shadow, lipstick, blush). No Black nail polish may be worn. No clogs, sneakers, hiking boots, candies, any type of sneaker shoe with rubber soles, plastic shoes, and shoes above the ankle. FLAT SHOES ONLY. No sweatshirt-type jackets, with or without hoods, turtlenecks, sweatshirts or non- uniformed sweaters. Girls grades k - 5 are not to wear ruffled, cowl-necked or peter pan collar blouses. Only white tee-shirts are to be worn underneath the uniform shirt. No designs, insignias or turtlenecks. Girls are never allowed to wear LARGE hoops or dangling earrings. Only 1 (one) earring is permissible in an ear. Boys are never allowed to wear any earrings, chains, bracelets, jewelry or nail polish. School uniforms may not be worn to gym class. All studens are required to purchase a uniform. St. Margaret’s gym clothing must be worn to take part in a gym class. Sneakers are necessary according to York State Law. PLEASE MARK ALL UNIFORMS, SHIRTS, BLOUSES, SWEATERS, SNEAKERS, SHOES, HATS, GLOVES, JACKETS, BOOTS, PANTS AND GYM CLOTHES WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME. SPECIAL CLASSES In compliance with the laws of New York State, we are providing our students with as many special classes as can be afforded through the Parent/Teacher Guild fund raising efforts. Since financing these special classes has become their sole obligation, there is great need for successful Parent/Teacher Guild functions. Some of their ventures include school sales, candy bar, wrapping paper, and a Theme Tray Night and other fund-raisers they sponsor. PARENT/TEACHER GUILD PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASSES: PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADES PRE K - 8 All students from grades PRE K through 8 attend gym, unless excused by a note from their doctor. Students must have proper attire, including sneakers, uniformed gym clothing, to help prevent accidents. This rule is strictly enforced in accordance with New York State Laws. MUSIC CLASS GRADES PRE K - 8 Grades Pre k – 5 have a music class per week. Grades 6 – 8 is optional. A school choir is available for pupils in grades 3 – 8. These students sing at special Liturgies and 9:30 Sunday Mass, and programs held during the school year. ART CLASS GRADES K – 8 The teacher and some supplies used for these classes are also furnished by Parent/Teacher Guild. LIBRARY GRADES PREK – 5 One formal class per week. Grades 6 – 8 research weekly. COMPUTER CLASS GRADES K – 8 Students learn keyboard language, basics of operating a computer, programming, research, and basic printing procedures. PARENT/TEACHER GUILD Is now an extention of the Educational Advisory Committee (E.A.C.). Parents are asked to attend the the E.A.C. meetings once a month. The Parent/Teacher Guild helps to provide classroom/office equipment, Class Day for the 8th grade students, scholarship awards at graduation, gifts to our teachers, a Recognition Dinner for teachers and many renovations and improvements. We are deeply indebted to our Parent/Teacher Guild Officers and their members for their untiring efforts to improve and better our school in all aspects for the benefit of our children. OPTIONAL CLASSES DANCE his offered to students in Pre-k through 8th grade as an option. The dance fee is not included in the tuition. It is not a New York State Requirement. A fee of $150.00 for the year per child must be paid by October 25th. This fee does not include leotards, tights, tap shoes/ballet shoes or recital costumes. INSTRUMENTAL BAND is offered as an option to students in grades 3 through 8. The student received a ½ hour session per week for a monthly set fee of $43.00.