St. Jerome Catholic School Student-Parent Handbook     (click on desired section) CONTENTS CONTENTS.. 1 MISSION STATEMENT. 2 PHILOSOPHY, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.. 2 SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.. 3 PHYSICAL GOALS.. 3 AESTHETIC GOALS.. 4 INTELLECTUAL GOALS.. 4 SPIRITUAL GOALS.. 4 CURRICULUM.. 5 PHYSICAL EDUCATION.. 5 ART, DANCE, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS.. 5 ADMISSION POLICY. 6 TUITION.. 6 TUITION - REGISTRATION  FEE.. 6 TUITION PAYMENT POLICY. 6 REFUND POLICY. 7 TUITION ASSISTANCE.. 7 COMMUNICATIONS.. 7 TESTING.. 7 HOMEWORK.. 7 AVERAGE  CUMULATIVE  HOMEWORK  TIME.. 7 GRADING.. 7 PROMOTION.. 8 RETENTION.. 8 REPORTING TO PARENTS.. 8 PROCEDURES FOR RECOMMENDED TRANSFER.. 8 NONRENEWAL OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT. 8 SCHOOL MAIL SYSTEM.. 9 COUNSELOR.. 9 PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS.. 9 VOICE MAIL. 9 VOICE MAIL NUMBERS.. 9 CHANGE OF ADDRESS.. 9 ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS.. 9 CONFERENCES.. 9 CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCEDURE.. 10 DISCIPLINE.. 11 RECESS/LUNCH PLAYGROUND RULES.. 11 LOWER YARD.. 11 DETENTION.. 12 SUSPENSION.. 12 EXPULSION.. 12 APPEARANCE AND DRESS.. 12 GENERAL APPEARANCE.. 13 DRESS CODE.. 14 STUDENT and SCHOOL PERSONNEL SAFETY. 14 ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURE.. 14 YARD SUPERVISION BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. 14 SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE.. 14 ABUSE OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL. 14 OAKLAND DIOCESE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT HARASSMENT POLICY. 15 POLICY STATEMENT. 15 CONFIDENTIALITY. 15 RETALIATION.. 15 DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. 15 EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. 16 EMPLOYEE TO STUDENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT. 16 STUDENT TO STUDENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT. 16 SAFETY. 17 EARTHQUAKE DISASTER PLAN FOR SAINT JEROME SCHOOL. 17 SHELTER IN PLACE AND SECURING THE BUILDING.. 18 STUDENT AND PLANT SECURITY. 19 MEDICATIONS.. 19 ILLNESS AND INJURY. 19 FIELD TRIPS.. 19 CHAPERONES -  GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS.. 19 VISITORS.. 19 ABSENCE AND TARDY POLICY. 20 EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURE.. 20 CUSTODY AND RELEASE OF MINORS.. 20 STUDENT GOVERNMENT. 20 QUALIFICATIONS  OF STUDENT COUNCIL PARTICIPANTS.. 20 PARENT PARTICIPATION PROGRAM (P.P.P.) 20 PARENT PARTICIPATION PROGRAM  -  REGULATIONS.. 21 RED BALLOON  -  EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM.. 22 MISCELLANEOUS.. 23 BIRTHDAYS.. 23 CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION (CYO), DIOCESE OF OAKLAND.. 23 GRADUATION.. 23 LIBRARY. 23 LITURGIES.. 23 LOST AND FOUND.. 23 LUNCHES.. 23 P.T.G.  (Parent Teacher Group) 23 RADIOS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS.. 24 SCHOOL BOARD.. 24 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.. 24 TB  TESTS.. 24   [Return to Contents]   MISSION STATEMENT   St. Jerome Catholic School is an educational ministry of St. Jerome Catholic Church in El Cerrito. Our K-8 school – committed to sharing the Catholic tradition – serves and embraces a diverse population and welcomes people of all beliefs. We offer a challenging academic program in a prayerful, save and stimulating environment. Our qualified faculty, in partnership with dedicated parents, provides our students with opportunities and experiences to develop the skills and values necessary to become responsible, contributing citizens of the 21st century. PHILOSOPHY, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES   St. Jerome Catholic School is a Kindergarten through eighth grade parish school dedicated to a Christian philosophy of education.  We at St. Jerome recognize that every person has equal dignity and an equal right to an education and we affirm the dignity and uniqueness of each child. We celebrate the cultural diversity within our school, and we seek to develop an appreciation of the richness it provides. We provide a student centered environment stressing the development of the whole person.  We recognize parents as the primary educators and teachers as facilitators in the process of education.  We encourage the active participation of all parents at school, in home study, and in extra-curricular activities.   The curriculum is designed to enable the students to reach their full academic potential.  We stress basic skills so that students will be prepared to participate fully in adult life.  We acknowledge the importance of building a strong moral, ethical, and academic foundation so that all students have the basic tools and values to become productive and responsible members of their immediate Christian community and of society at large.  Study of the Scripture, participation in the Liturgy, with emphasis on the Mass and Sacraments, and the importance of personal prayer life, are essential components of the educational process. We emphasize conscience formation to help students learn to make the right decisions in life by taking into consideration their obligation to God, to their neighbor, to their family, and to themselves.   We believe that passing on the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church is a primary reason for our existence as a school.  We encourage curiosity about God’s marvelous world with the expectation that students will grow in reverence for truth, beauty, and goodness. [Return to Contents] SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES To develop a positive sense of worth and dignity in self and others we:             -reinforce positive behavior.             -teach respect.             -teach students to realize and appreciate that God made each person unique and special.   To develop an appreciation of cultural differences we:             -provide the opportunity to learn about diverse cultures.             -we encourage interaction and understanding among students of diverse backgrounds.     To teach the basic principles of social justice we:             -teach the basic principles of peace             -explain the privileges and responsibilities implicit in the doctrine of free will.             -will cite instances of social injustice and where possible implement solutions.   To inculcate good manners we:             -discuss the importance of and significance of good manners.             -teach the conventional forms of speaking and of acting politely.              To provide continuity and stability within the school we:             -maintain a consistent daily routine.             -provide consistency in rules and regulations.             -facilitate communication among teachers concerning students and their needs.   To assist in the development and maintenance of good interpersonal relationships among the students we:             -help the students through informal conferences and provide counseling opportunities.             -employ a variety of teaching styles, i.e., role playing, group discussion, cooperative learning, peer tutoring etc.     To help the students function in a self-disciplined and responsible manner we:             -encourage students to accept accountability for their actions.             -work closely with students in modifying unacceptable behavior patterns.             -strive to instill in students a desire to be good. [Return to Contents]     PHYSICAL GOALS To foster a reverence for life we:             -teach the Catholic Church’s positions on peace and abortion.             -teach respect for all forms of life.             -emphasize the sacredness of the individual as a child of God.    To develop and encourage physical fitness we:             -teach the skills necessary for the mastery of  basic motor operations.             -provide outlets for recreation and physical activity both in and out   of school.             -help the students value regular exercise. -teach the rules of games and the minimal skills which will allow enjoyable participation by the students.   To encourage each student to have respect for his/her own body and the bodies of others knowing that they are temples of the Holy Spirit we:             -teach the position of the Catholic Church  on the value of chastity.             -expand the student’s knowledge of growth and bodily changes through participation in the Family Life Program. [Return to Contents]            AESTHETIC GOALS To develop an appreciation for the perception of beauty we:             -train the eye to see and the ear to hear.             -widen the students’ exposure through available cultural activities.   INTELLECTUAL GOALS To provide students with the skills necessary to be prepared for a constantly changing world we:             -promote proficiency in oral and written communication.             -emphasize basic reading and computational skills.             -maintain a well-rounded curriculum. -familiarize students with modern technology.   To assist students in reaching their full academic potential we:             -meet individual needs by using a variety of teaching methods.             -stimulate creativity and critical thinking in students.             -provide an atmosphere conducive to study.             -promote good, independent study habits.             -evaluate the students’ progress through testing and observation.   To promote an awareness of the value and pleasure of learning we:             -foster intellectual curiosity in the world around us.             -strive to make learning a stimulating experience.             -stress the relevance to students’ lives, of skills and material taught.             -acknowledge the academic achievement of students. [Return to Contents] SPIRITUAL GOALS To guide the students to a greater understanding of, and response to, God’s love we: -  encourage the students to develop a sense of the Presence of God through various forms of prayer - personal and formal - mindful of the age level,unique personality and talents of each student. -  awaken in the students a greater knowledge and understanding of the Mass and Sacraments so that these experiences  become an integral part of the students’ living experience. -  make Scripture a reality in the life of the students through participation in liturgical and para-liturgical services, music, art, and dramatization.   To promote the practice of religious truth and respect for God’s creation we: - develop in each student a sense of Christian ethics and morals which will help him/her to become a good Christian citizen, and an asset to the community. -  develop in each student a growing appreciation and respect for    God’s beautiful world. -  demonstrate Christian living by our example to the school community, parish community and community-at-large. -  provide opportunities for outreach to the poor, sick, or underprivileged in local and global communities through service and mission activities. -  through our Family Life Program, foster chastity through an appreciation of human sexuality.   To foster the cooperation of parents in the religious education of their children: -  provide good example for the students by praying, celebrating Eucharist, socializing, and recreating as a community. -  become involved in the preparation of the children for the reception of the Sacraments. -  share views and concerns at parent meetings and teacher-parent conferences. -          involve the parents directly in the Family Life Program [Return to Contents] CURRICULUM   St. Jerome Catholic School curriculum is designed to elicit from the students a Christian response in reaching their full academic potential.  The importance of building a strong moral, ethical, and academic foundation is acknowledged in order that all students have the basic tools and values to become productive and responsible members of their immediate Christian community and of society at large.     RELIGION - RCL, FAITH FIRST The religion program includes the study of Scripture, participation in the Liturgy with emphasis on the Mass and Sacraments, and the importance of personal prayer life.   FAMILY LIFE - Benziger, FAMILY LIFE “The ultimate goal of the series is to provide children with an understanding of the nature and importance of human sexuality as informed by Christian faith.”   SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM - Brown-Roa, CELEBRATING OUR FAITH Second grade students who are baptized Catholic are prepared for first reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.  Students in grades three through eight who are eligible for the sacraments but have not received them, are prepared individually.   LANGUAGE ARTS -  Prentice-Hall, Prentice Hall Literature, (Grades 7-8);Scott Foresman Spelling (Grades 1-8);  Houghton-Mifflin English (K-8);Scott Foresman/Addison Wesley, Celebrate Reading  (Grades K-6) The goal of the St. Jerome School English Language Arts Program is to develop effective communicators who will function as informed, moral decision-making, participating citizens in society.  This means that all instruction will be (with the intent to) produce literate, fluent and lifelong readers, writers and articulate speakers committed to literary and meaningful communication on all levels.   MATHEMATICS - Scott Foresman, Mathematics 1994 (Grades 1-6);  Prentice Hall, MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH (Grades 7-8)  The goal of the St. Jerome School Mathematics Program is to develop in students the ability to discern mathematical relationships, to reason logically, and to use mathematical techniques effectively in order to approach the study of mathematics with confidence and a spirit of inquiry.   SOCIAL STUDIES - Houghton-Mifflin (1991) The goal of the St. Jerome School Social studies Program is to study the past, to appreciate our national identity and the diversity of world cultures, to be aware of the changing world and to embrace the challenges of the future.   SCIENCE - Scott Foresman, DISCOVER SCIENCE  (Grades K-5);   Merrill, LIFE SCIENCE  (Grade 6);  Merrill, EARTH SCIENCE (Grade 7);  Merrill, PHYSICAL SCIENCE  (Grade 8).  The goal of the St. Jerome School Science program is to appreciate the splendors of God’s creation, to study the principles and processes that shape the natural world, to apply logical methods, to encourage discovery and to explore the world’s mysteries.   SPANISH - D.C. Heath and Company, DIME (Grades 7-8)  The Spanish program is organized to help the students attain an acceptable degree of proficiency in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  The language is presented within the context of the contemporary Spanish-speaking world and its culture. PHYSICAL EDUCATION The goal of the St. Jerome School physical education program is to enhance the student’s physical and academic performance and to lead them to lifelong fitness and wellness. ART, DANCE, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS