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Transportation Bus Route and Operating Policies Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, Rollerblades Change of Address and/or Telephone Health Services |
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The Catholic schools of the Diocese of Superior admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at these schools. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admission policies, scholarship or loan policies, and athletic and school administered programs.
Daily attendance is essential for a child to be successful in school. All parents are strongly encouraged to plan family activities around the school day. School is the student's full-time job. It is the shared responsibility of the school and home to assist students to develop desirable habits of punctuality and attendance. Students are ex[ected to attend school regularly in compliance with the law for compulsory attendance.
On the day the child is absent, a parent has the responsibility of notifying the school office before 8:30 AM to explain the cause of the absence. When the student is absent without an excuse, school officials will contact the parents as soon as possible. If a student reports after 10:00 AM, they will be marked absent for ½ day. If no phone call is received students must bring a written excuse signed by the parent, when they return to school. The school secretary keeps these letters on file.
A student who arrives after 8:15 AM and before 10:00 AM, or is not in the classroom when the class bells ring is tardy.
Parents are urged to schedule medical or dental appointments during vacation periods or after school hours. The only excused absences are those due to illness of the pupil, death in the family, a doctor or dentist appointment or whenever the principal, in consultation with the parent or guardian, considers that exemption from attendance in the best interest of the pupil. All other absences are unexcused.
Anticipated absences are discouraged. These absences are not in the best academic interest of the students. However, if an anticipated absence is necessary, arrangements are to be made in advance. A student is to see respective teachers prior to the absence to arrange for making up the work missed. Absences or absence requests, other than for medical reasons, that occur without written permission of the parent or is not approved by the principal, will be considered as unexcused or truant and result in disciplinary action.
Students will normally be released only to those parents listed on registration forms. Parents must notify the school, preferably in writing, if they desire the school to release their child to someone other than the specified parent. All students that are released from school during the school day must be signed out in the school office. Students returning must sign back in with the office.
Students or their parents are responsible for requesting make-up work as soon as possible. If dates of a student's absence are known in advance, the teacher should be notified and planned assignments may be given. Although the school discourages lengthy vacations during the school year, sometimes circumstances require this to occur. If a student needs to be excused from school, a written note is required from the office. The student needs to meet with each teacher to discuss assignments and expectations to be met upon return to school.
Students who are absent from school for the entire day will not be allowed to participate in after school activities for the day they are absent unless approved by the Principal.
Pre-Kindergarten students need to be four on or before September 1st of school year. (Earlier admission may be granted by the Principal.) Kindergarten students need to be five on or before September 1st of the school year. (Testing by MAPS may allow earlier admission.) The principal will request information about a new student from former teachers and/or administrator about possible educational needs that must be met prior to final acceptance.
All of the food groups (protein, grain, vegetables and fruit and milk) are offered at each meal. A school lunch meal consists of food pyramid servings, not the "typical" helping. A serving is a measured amount of food. A helping is what most people usually eat. Our lunch program is responsible for providing a lunch of 1/3 of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances). All menus must meet nutrition goals (of the RDA for key nutrients, calories and dietary guidelines) when averaged over a school week and analyzed by the state agency during a state review. School lunch will be offer vs. serve, which means a student must choose 3 of the 5 servings offered on one trip through the line. An alternative daily entrée, sandwich, will be served.
Menus are published and sent home monthly. They are also available online. Click for lunch menu.
Weather permitting, students in grades K-5 will have a morning recess each day plus a noontime recess. The decision to have outside recess during cold weather depends upon the temperature and the wind-chill factor. Shorter outside recess times may be scheduled on very cold days. Students should dress appropriately for outside recess. All students must be on the playground during recess (unless teacher requests extra tutorial time). In the winter, boots are required for grades K-5 for outside play.
Since we believe that the education of each child is a mutual responsibility, with parents taking the foremost role, parental involvement is a necessity. Parents are encouraged to help in classrooms, on field trips, with extracurricular activities, and attend school functions.
Parents and visitors are always welcome at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. For educational purposes and safety, all visitors are REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE TO SIGN IN AND SECURE A VISITOR'S BADGE rather than going directly to a student's classroom (exception is when picking up a student after school). The secretary will assist you and take care of your needs.
Parents have the privilege of examining the child's school records. Requests for access to the child's records should be made, in writing, through the School Administrator.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School's Home and School Organization has been highly involved in improving our school. Parents are automatically members and are encouraged to actively participate. Meetings are scheduled during the year and are announced in advance.
Student pictures will be taken on Friday, September 17, 2003. Those students not desiring to purchase pictures will still have their picture taken for the class pictures and the yearbook. A yearbook, created by the eighth grade, may be purchased in the spring.
A school newsletter containing items of interest to students and parents will be distributed each month. Classroom and individual notices and reminders will be sent home periodically.
The school phones are business phones and are not to be used by students without permission from their classroom teacher. Only important calls are to be made.
The following will be used for students who cause problems on the bus:
Bus Route and Operating Policies Bus routes and stops are planned and established by the administration of Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS). Parents who wish to make request for changes in routes or stops should contact the school principal for a request form, which must be approved by MAPS. Students shall not be dropped off at any route other than their assigned stop. After-school buses are to be boarded at St. Francis School. An exception to these rules may be allowed if written parental permission is forwarded to the office where a bus pass may be issued. Parents will assume the responsibility for the child when such a request is made and granted. AM bus students will disembark on the east side of St. Francis. Supervision will be provided. PM bus students will load on the east side of St. Francis. Students will be detained in their classroom until their bus arrives. Arrival of busses will be announced over the P/A system. Supervision will be provided for bus loading.
To provide the safest environment for our students please observe the following guidelines when dropping off or picking up students. Please use extreme caution at all times. Drop-off: Please enter the west parking lot (off of Tenth Street) using the driveway located by the field and exit by the driveway closest to the school building. This will create a one-way traffic flow and provide the greatest safety for our students. Pick-up Pick up students at their classroom. Students should be picked up by 3:05 p.m. No student will be dismissed until they have adult supervision. This policy will apply to students being picked up at any time (after school or for appointments). No parking is allowed in the handicapped areas or on the church ramp.
Students who walk to and from school should go directly to their destination. Students should remain on sidewalks. If no sidewalks are available, walk close to the edge of the road facing traffic. Safety Patrols will assist walkers at the corner of Tenth & Kyes.
Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, Rollerblades The school assumes no responsibility for bicycles. However, provisions have been made to safeguard bikes by requiring them to be properly parked and locked in the school bike racks. Bicycles are not to be ridden off school grounds during the school day. Skateboards, scooters and rollerblades are not permitted.
Outside supervision begins at 7:30 a.m. The middle school students will be able to enter through door #2 at 7:40 a.m. each day. This will give them additional opportunities to interact with staff and/or to receive extra academic help. Elementary students will enter through door #7 at 7:50 a.m. (Monday -Thursday) and 7:45 a.m. (Friday). Classes begin at 8:00 a.m. and students should be in their rooms ready to start class at this time. Dismissal will be at 3:00 p.m. Students should be picked up by 3:05 p.m. On half days school will run from 8:00-12:00 noon. All students should leave the school grounds immediately after school (3:00 p.m.) unless engaged in a supervised after school activity or detained by a teacher.
Cancellation of school takes place during circumstances such as extreme weather and equipment failure. Cancellations will be announced on local TV and radio stations. St. Francis follows the Merrill Area Public Schools policy for school closing.
The school's management plan for the identification and management of asbestos is located in the school office. This document is available for review by all parents. An asbestos examination of the building was done on May 7, 2001.
Fire/tornado drills are required by law at regular intervals and are necessary for emergency preparedness. Drill regulations and exit routes are posted in each room. Students should familiarize themselves with the exit route from each classroom. Classroom teachers will review these regulations and direct you to the proper exit route from each classroom.
It is very important that every student maintains an up-to-date address and telephone number at the school office. Please notify the school immediately if you have a change of address or telephone number during the school year.
The Lincoln County Health Department provides on-site school nursing service for one hour every other week. Parents will receive periodic communication in health related matters. Parents of any student with special health care needs in the school setting should contact the Lincoln County Health Department in the summer, if possible, to develop an individual health plan.
State standards must be met. Minimum Requirements - All students attending Merrill Public, Parochial and Private Schools must meet the following requirements: Grades PreK through 3 and 8 -- 4 DTP/DTaP/DT/Td, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B, 1 Varcella Even though your child meets these minimum requirements, he or she may be in need of booster doses.
Vision screening is done on all students by volunteers trained by the school nurse during the school year. Hearing screening is done on all students in grades K - 4 by Lincoln County Health Department technicians. Rescreening and referrals for follow up regarding suspected vision or hearing problems is the responsibility of the school nurse.
The health and safety of students and staff will be the primary consideration in dealing with communicable diseases. The administration will contact Health Services and legal authorities if necessary when there are concerns related to communicable diseases. It is the responsibility of staff members to report any suspected or diagnosed communicable disease to the health services office and principal. Necessary precautions will be taken. Reportable diseases must be reported to the Health Department per Wisconsin Statute Chapter 143.04(3). Confidentiality of a student or staff member shall be maintained in compliance with State Statute 118.125. However, appropriate staff members will be informed of related risks and necessary precautions. An alternative educational plan will be implemented for students who must be restricted from the routine school setting for a significant period of time.
An emergency information form is required for each child and is to be completed at the beginning of the school year. Any changes to the information are to be reported to the office immediately.
The school does not carry health or accident insurance for its students. Information describing a commercial insurance program, which covers school activities, will be sent home with each student. Parents may purchase this coverage if they desire. The waiver form must be signed and returned to school if the insurance is not purchased.
Physical Education Participation To be excused from physical education the child must have a medical excuse signed by a doctor. This excuse allows the child to sit out of physical activity without losing credit for the class. Parents are encouraged to write notes to the physical education teacher if they feel their child needs to limit activities for a short time. The child must dress and perform the day's activities except for those addressed in the note.
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A food bar may be available to students in
Grades 4-8.