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Parent Handbook
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Dear Parents,
Catholic Education is a valuable tool in bringing the world to the child and the child closer to God and the world itself. The values of Catholic Education are for life. At St. Jerome School our goal is to provide a high quality Catholic Education helping our students to meet the ever changing world and preparing them for the challenges that await them in the future. St. Jerome School is part of the Church’s ministry enlivened by the gospel spirit of freedom and love. It is our responsibility to guide our children so that they may be able to live, learn, pray, to be part of the community and to be of service to others. Together, let us continue to prepare our children so that success will be theirs. The 2002-2003 edition of the parent handbook will provide you with the information and guidelines that enable St. Jerome School to operate effectively. Together, we can concentrate on the goals of Catholic Education at St. Jerome School. It is important that you as parents review the contents of this handbook together with your child or children, so that they understand that the school and the home are partners in their education. Therefore, we urge your cooperation, your assistance, and your support in fostering the Catholic education your children richly deserve. All of us at St. Jerome School are anxious to be of service to you and your children. We look forward to creating a bond between the school and the home. Finally, we remember our school theme for this year is: “Were Building a Better World…One Student at a Time.” Sincerely yours, Peter Trumblay Principal of St. Jerome School Mission Statement The mission of St. Jerome School is to educate the whole child: physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. In doing so we hope that each child follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Gospel Teachings, becomes life long learners, people of prayer, service and community building.
Philosophy St. Jerome School is a Catholic School dedicated to the total growth and development of the Christian child. The faculty and staff recognize the dignity and differences of individual students. Therefore, they strive to develop each child’s spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physically and social potential within a caring environment. The school is
part of St. Jerome Parish. In cooperation with the parents, the
primary educators, the faculty strives to provide academic
excellence in a setting that attempts to implement the values and
traditions of the Catholic Church. While recognizing
the homogeneous character of the school, programs and projects are
designed to extend the focus from their personal culture and the
world around them. The emphasis must be that each child respects
the dignity of every human being. The school staff
concurs with this belief and invites the students to a greater
awareness of Christ’s presence in the world through the
witnessing of Gospel values. The ultimate objective is to guide
the students to strive for the truth, and to live this truth as
responsible members of the Church and society. St. Jerome Faculty and Staff2002-2003 Early Childhood/Preschool Art Mrs. Karen Mezia Mrs. Irene Hermanowski Mrs. Anna Babich…Aide Music/Band Kindergarten Mr. Larry Haptas Ms. Tracy Lester Ms. Sarah Donley Mrs. Sandy Fallon…Aide Computers Mr. John Fallon 1st Grade Ms. Melissa Hurley Physical Education Mrs. Michaelena Considine 2nd Grade Ms. Nicolette Bernardi Drama Mrs. Irene Hermanowski (Kg-4) 3rd Grade Mr. Peter Trumblay (5-8) Mrs. Mary Buschhorn Foreign Language 4th Grade Mrs. Elizabeth Rodiquez (Italian) Mr. Edward Creech Ms. Nidia Arreola (Spanish) 5th Grade Before Care Coordinator Ms. Kristen Hermanowski Mrs. Sandy Fallon 6th Grade After Care Coordinators Mrs. Jadie Juric Ms. Kristen Hermanowski Ms. Tracy Lester 7th Grade Mrs. Rojewski Counselor T.B.A. 8th Grade Ms. Carm Parrilli Title I Teachers (Tutoring Program) Mrs. Mary Buschhorn Administration Mrs. Irene Hermanowski Mr. Peter Trumblay, Principal Ms. Carm Parrilli, Asst. Principal Maintenance Mrs. MaryAnn Senerchia, Secretary Mr. Paul Gulittolo
Lunch Program Mrs. Pauline Dengler Mrs. Cathy DeMar Mrs. Gail Gallo St. Jerome School Board
2002-2003 Fr. Joe Grbes, Pastor of St. Jerome Parish Mrs. Denise Bertucci Mr. Peter Trumblay, Principal Mrs. Laura Perseghin Mrs. Jan Ferro, President of the School Board Mrs. Chris Pecese Mrs. Pauline Dengler Mrs. Mary Vujic Mrs. Jan Marie Zekich Mrs. MaryAnn Ciaravio St. Jerome School Board meets once a month in the parish hall. Time and day to be determined. Home-School Association Officers
2002-2003 Mrs. Toni Mitchell, President Mrs. Debbie Miloslavich, Vice President Mrs. Eva Mossman, Treasurer Mrs. Anna Kenny, Secretary Mrs. MaryBeth Insalaco, Sgt. of Arms Mrs. Sunnie Domingo, Auditor The Parents Club is an organization designed to provide assemblies and enrichments activities for our students. The goal is to foster better communication between the school and the home, which will encourage parental involvement in the education of all the children of St. Jerome School. Sports Association
St. Jerome School provides combined competitive and instructional sports programs as an extension of St. Jerome School academic program. Student participants will learn the fundamentals of each sport, and be given the opportunity to develop strong, healthy, and disciplined minds and bodies. Participants will also develop a sense of good sportsmanship, fair play and team spirit. Parent Advisory Board to the PrincipalThe Parent Advisory is a group of 20-25 parents, who meet once a month regarding issues that affect the entire school. Issues like drop off and pick up of students, safety concerns for all students, academic concerns, and other issues that might arise because of new situations that occur in the near future. This advisory board does not make policy, but only give suggestions to the administration. The administration has the final decision. Liturgical LifeThe Pastoral, To
Teach as Jesus Did, states that the fourfold purpose of Catholic
education is to proclaim authentically and fully the message of
Jesus, to foster an understanding and building of community in all
areas of life, to encourage service to each other for the good of
all, and to participate in parish worship celebrations. Parents and
guardians are the primary educators of children. Part of any good
teaching is modeling. Therefore, parents and students are expected
to participate in Parish life by attendance at Sunday Eucharist
Celebrations. One Sunday a month is designated Family Sunday. Families are required to attend these Eucharistic celebrations. Family
Masses for 2002-2003 September 15,
2002 - Catechetical Sunday - 9:30 A.M. October 20, 2002
- 5th /Preschool
Grade Hosting - 9:30 A.M. November 17, 2002
- 8th Grade Hosting - 9:30 A.M. December 15, 2002
- 4th Grade Hosting - 9:30 A.M. January 26, 2003
- Catholic Schools Week – 9:30 A.M. February 23, 2003
– 7th Grade Hosting – 9:30 A.M. March 30, 2003
– 6th Grade Hosting – 9:30 A.M. April 13, 2003
– 2nd / 1st Grade Hosting – 9:30 A.M. May 8, 2003 –
May Crowning – 7:00 P.M. May 18, 2003 –
3rd Grade/ Kg Hosting – 9:30 A.M. Policy and Procedures Absence
Accident
Insurance: An insurance policy is offered to all students
on an optional basis. Forms are sent home in the beginning of the
school year. Administration of Medication: According to state law, it is only permissible for school personnel to dispense medication under the following conditions.
Mrs. Senerchia or Mr. Trumblay. Medication must be brought in a pharmacy- labeled container or an original over the counter container.
Admission Policy Non-Discrimination Policy: St. Jerome School in accordance with the Archdiocese of Chicago. This policy is the following.
Order of Admission: Admission of students shall be accepted in accordance with the following guidelines in order of priority as listed.
Age
of Admission: A child entering St. Jerome School
must be in compliance with the requirements of the State of
Illinois regarding age of admission. 3-YEAR-OLD
PRE-KINDERGARTEN: Child must be three years old by September 1st. 4-YEAR-OLD
PRE-KINDERGARTEN: Child must be four years old by September 1st. KINDERGARDTEN: Child must be five years old by September 1st. Admission of New Students: For admission of any new student, parents must present the following items.
Admission
of Transfer Students: For admission of
transfer students, parents shall present the proper transfer from
the school attended. Upon request from the receiving school, all
records from the former school, including health records, shall be
transferred. All transfer
students will be subject to an evaluation and conference at the
end of the first quarter. St. Jerome School reserves the right to
recommend alternative placement if the student cannot meet the
academic standards and expectations of St. Jerome School. Registration will not be finalized until previous academic records are furnished by the parent or the transferring school and examined by the Principal for proper placement. Alcohol:
Alcohol is not to be served at school events when children are
present. Attendance
Back
To School Night: During the first month of
school, there will be an evening in which you will meet the Home
–School Association Officers, the Pastor, Principal and
Teachers. During this evening, you will be given important
information regarding the school year. Examples: Crisis Handbook,
Parent/Student Handbook and Teacher Expectations. This is a great
way to begin the communication between school and the home. It
usually begins at 6:30 P.M. and concludes at 8:30 P.M. Before
Care Program: The Before-Care program is from 7:00
am to 7:50 am. Monday-Friday. Parents must register their child or
children for this extra program. A small snack is provided.
Parents are responsible to take their child to the First Floor
Classroom and meet the teacher at the door to assure your
child’s safety. Books:
Books are to be covered and well cared for at all times. Students
are responsible for the condition of books and will be assessed a
charged for damages which must be paid before final report cards
are given out. Backpacks:
Students may use backpacks to carry their books to and from
school. Once, they are in school, the students may empty their bag
and place it in their locker.
Bullying: Bullying has become a problem in many schools today. St. Jerome School has zero tolerance for bullying. The most common ways of bullying are the following:
If this occurs,
the parents will be contacted and the appropriate action will
occur. The discipline can vary from suspension to expulsion. Change
of Address: Please notify the school office
immediately if there is a change of address or phone number. Cheating:
Cheating in the academic world is not tolerated. In an event of
cheating, the student will receive a zero for the assignment, test
or project. If the student continually cheats, a meeting will be
set up with parents and a course of action will take place. Child
Abuse: By law the State of Illinois requires school
personnel to inform the Department of Children and Family Services
of any allegations/suspicion of child abuse and neglect. Communicable Diseases: When a child has been absent because of a communicable disease, a doctor’s note must be presented to the teacher and the office before the child can return back to school. The following diseases require exclusion from school.
If there is exposure to a communicable disease in the classroom an official letter of notification will go home with his or her class. Computer
Lab: The schools computer lab is intended for educational
purposes and not for personal use. Therefore, personalization of
the lab’s computers by students is prohibited. Students are not
allowed to download and or install services onto the computers
including but not limited to screen savers and instant messages.
Violation of this policy could result in tempaory or permanent use
of the lab. Students will be assigned to a computer station at the
beginning of the year. The computer teacher and homeroom teacher
need to work together to assure appropriate use of the lab. Custody
Issues: This school abides by the provision of the Buckley
Amendment with respect to the rights of the non-custodial parent.
In the absence of a court order to the contrary, school will
provide the non-custodial parent access to the academic records
and to other school related information. If there is a court order
specifying that there is to be no information given, it is the
responsibility of the custodial parent to give us an official copy
of the court order. A letter from the attorney DOES NOT work. Early
Dismissal: Before an individual student can be dismissed
early from school, there must be a written request made in writing
by the parent or guardian to the teacher. Permission is obtained
by the Principal. Parents must come to the office and sign their
child out of school. No student is allowed to leave school without
permission. Once a student arrives at school, they are not allowed
to leave the school campus. Electrical
Equipment: Students should not be bringing headphones,
radios or walkmans to school. The school cannot be responsible of
such devices. If the student brings one to school, it will be sent
to the office and the parent will pick it up. Emergency
Sheets: An emergency sheet is kept on each family in the
school office each year. Each family must fill this sheet out
during the first week of school. This provides the staff with
direct contact with parents, guardians and or medical services.
Please keep this as accurate. If there are any changes please call
the school office. Please be accurate when completing this form. Emergency
Crisis Plan: St. Jerome School has a Crisis Plan.
Copies are given to parents during Back to School Night that
occurs within the second week of school. Each teacher has a copy
of this plan and is in service prior to student’s arrival. Emergency
School Closing: As a general rule, St. Jerome School
will be open unless Chicago Public School or Archdiocesan Schools
are closed due to bad weather. In such cases, the emergency call
system will go into effect. Room Mothers will be notified to call
parents. The call will be made to the oldest and only child of the
family. Please DO NOT CALL THE RECTORY OR SCHOOL, because the
lines need to be open to place calls. The closing will be
announced both on radio and television. Expulsion:
Expulsion is the termination of the pupil’s privilege to attend
the school and requires transfer of the pupil to another school.
Except in appropriate cases, expulsion will be imposed only after
a suspension has taken place. Expulsion is ordinarily invoked when
a drastic action is required to prevent disruption of the school
environment. Extended
Day Care: The Aftercare Program goes from Monday to
Friday from 2:30-5:00 P.M. The Extended Day Care Room is in the
First Floor Classroom. A snack is provided. Field Trips: Field Trips of an educational or recreational nature will be planned with the students. Written permission of parents is required for field trips. The fees will vary according to the occasion. Chaperones are a necessary part of these experiences and we know we can rely on your cooperation as we have in the past. The office will approve trips prior to letter going home to parents. St. Jerome School has a Field Trip Emergency Plan and it is the following.
Fundraising:
Fundraising is an integral part of the viability of St. Jerome
School. Different organizations hold a variety of fundraisers.
Please support their cause and because it eventually helps all the
students of St. Jerome School. At St. Jerome School, we ask that
all parents work three bingos during the year including the school
and summer months. Transfers will not be given until all
fundraising obligations have been met. If a check is returned for
NSF, a $30.00 fee will be attached and writing future checks will
not be accepted. Gangs and Gang Related Activities: This school is a gang free school. Being part of any gang organization doesn’t foster the educational process. Activities prohibited are not limited to, the following:
Violation of this policy will result in schools discretion, in discipline up to and including expulsion from school. Grade Equivalencies: This is the following grade system that used at St. Jerome School
All grades 1st-8th will use this grading system. Health: These are the requirements from the State of Illinois
Immunizations
must be updated in their physical examination. In addition, dental
exams are strongly recommended. If students don’t have their
records in by the first day of school, they will be excluded from
school until all physical and dental records are in the school
office. Illness: If the child has a sore throat, earache, nasal discharge, skin rash, eye infection, persistent cough or tempteture over 99.6 degrees the child should be at home. If a child becomes ill during the school day, parents will be called at work or at home. Parents are responsible to pick up the child. The child will not be dismissed from school to walk alone. Inclement
Weather: During inclement weather, children will not be
allowed in the school until 7:45 A.M. If you want your child to
enter earlier, they must be enrolled in our Before-Care Program.
Children who wear boots to school must bring another pair of shoes
to wear in school. They must also be kept in a plastic bag for
storage. They should also have some type of cloth to clean off
their boots before placing them in a bag. NO SHOE BOOT or
CONSTRUCTION TYPE BOOT may be worn during the school day. Interviews
and Visits: Teachers are always happy to met with
all parents. Best results are obtained when teachers and families
work together. Conferences will not occur during class time. They
must be arranged before class starts or at the end of a school
day. Please call the office to set up an appointment. No one will
be permitted to visit the classrooms without knowledge and
permission of the teacher or the principal. Lunch
Program: Hot Lunch is available to all school children in
grades K-8th and is paid on a monthly basis. The
students may purchase the entire lunch including milk or milk
only. Lunch order forms and payment are due by the date printed on
the order form and will not be accepted after that date. Lunch
fees can be paid by cash or personal check. Any checks that are
returned to us for non-sufficient funds will occur a $30.00 fee.
NSF fee will result in the loss of check writing privileges. Lunch
must be purchased for the entire month it cannot be purchased on a
day-to-day basis. If your child forgets their lunch at home, the
school will provide a lunch for them that day. You will then be
asked to remit payment for the lunch to the school office by the
following day. It is the policy of St. Jerome School not to refund
of monies paid for days that are lost due to weather, field trips,
or sick days etc. Lunch order forms that are not accompanied by
the correct fee will be immediately returned and will be
considered unpaid until the proper amount is paid. Finally, NO
OUTSIDE LUNCHES are permitted in the school. Please direct any
questions or concerns to Mrs. Pauline Dengler. Free and Reduced
Lunches: St. Jerome School participates in the State of Illinois
Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program. It is available to all
students in grades K-8th. Qualifications for this
program are based on income and family size. Income requirement as
well as applications for this program are available in the school
office and can be applied for at anytime during the school year.
The identity of the children that participate in the program is
kept strictly confidential. We encourage our school families to
take advantage of this worthwhile program. Please direct any
questions regarding this program to Mrs. Pauline Dengler. Lost
and Found: Articles turned into the office will be
kept for one month. At the end of the month, they will be
discarded. Parents are encouraged to place their child’s name in
their school clothing. Lunch Recess: These are the following times for lunch and recess for our students. Kg-4th Lunch is at 11:30-11:50 Recess is from 11:50-12:05 5th-8th Lunch is at 12:00-12:20 Recess is from 12:20-12:30 Money:
All monies sent to the office should be placed in an envelope with
the students name, grade, amount and purpose. Large amounts of
money should be sent by check or money order. Non-Catholic
in Our School: The non-Catholic applicant should
understand, accept and will be willing to support actively the
philosophy and goals of the school. They should realize that
non-catholic students will attend liturgies, programs of service,
religion classes, as these areas are integral parts of our school.
The staff needs to be sensitive to the ability of the non-catholic
student to understand and be respectful of his or her religious
convictions. All students will be respectful of each other’s
religious beliefs and practices. Parent/Guardian
Communication Envelopes: Communication between the
school and the home is vital to a child’s education. The
“Parent/Guardian Communication Envelopes” is used to convey
important information to the home. There will be two folders being
sent home this year. The first will be sent home on Monday’s and
will contain all your child’s work from the previous week. Look
over the graded assignments and return the folder and signed sheet
to school the next day. The second folder will be our traditional
Thursday Folder. This will contain letters form the office,
organizations and the parish itself. Please review the enclosed
material and return the folder and signed sheet the next school
day. THE THUSDAY FOLDER WILL ONLY GO HOME WITH THE OLDEST AND ONLY
CHILD IN THE FAMILY. Safety: At all times parents should encourage their children to follow the following safety rules.
Tardiness:
School doors open at 7:50 A.M. Students arriving after 8:00 A.M.
will be tardy and receive an automatic detention for being late.
There will be a $10.00 fee attached to the detention. Telephone
Calls: The school telephones are installed for official
school use. Children will not be allowed to use the phone for left
assignments, forgotten gym outfits, lunches, permission slips,
etc. Telephone
Messages: Parents and Guardians are encouraged to call both
teachers and the school office with questions and concerns. All
calls directed to the teacher will be placed in their mailbox and
they will return your call at their earliest convenience. Traffic:
In the morning, yellow horses are placed on Princeton Ave. Cars
can only drive south to north. Drive up to the door and do a kiss
and ride. The Principal or some other adult will be there to
assist you in case of emergency. During the pickup, Princeton Ave
is blocked on one side. Cars can only drive south to north. Cars
can line up and as parents pick up their children and other cars
can take their place. The Principal or some other adult is usually
out there to assist if necessary. Tuition:
Tuition is due on the 15th of every month. Parents are
able to choose two tuition plans. Any return checks or late will
be additional fees applied to the tuition account. If you become
behind in tuition your child will not be able to go on fieldtrips,
no progress reports or report cards and transfer papers will not
be completed until all financial obligations are met. Uniforms:
All students are expected to be in proper uniform at all times.
Preschool children do not wear the school uniform. Uniforms are available at: Schoolbelles 6223 W. 79th Street Burbank, Illinois 60459
708-598-8008 The Uniform Code is as follows: Girls Kg-8th (Monday-Thursday)
Boys Kg-8th (Monday-Thursday)
Please note: All
blouses and shirts must be tucked in at all times. Gym Uniform (Friday Only)
Failure to follow
the uniform code will result in an automatic detention. Visitors: Parents are welcome in the school as observers providing advance notice and approval by the principal. Anyone entering the school building must sign in and be given a visitors pass. Water
Bottles: Students will be able to have water bottles in
school when the temperature outside is 80 degrees or above. St. Jerome School 2801 S. Princeton Chicago, Illinois 60616 Dear Parents, Please read over
this parent/student handbook. Please review the rules and
procedures to your child at their appropriate level. Once again, I
would like to thank each one of you for your continued help and
support. Sincerely yours, Peter Trumblay Principal of St. Jerome School I have read the handbook over and explained the rules and regulations to my child/children. Parent Signature: _______________________________________________ Student Signature: _______________________________________________ Student Signature: ______________________________________________ Note: Every child, who attends St. Jerome School must sign this sheet and agree to follow the rules of the school. Your child needs to bring this signed sheet back to school by _________________________. If the sheet is not return by the due date, your child will get a detention every day it is late and a $15.00 fee for each detention your child receives.
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