HUNTINGTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL
PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK
2009-10
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Primary Building (PK-4)
820 Cherry St.
Huntington, IN 46750
260-356-2320
Middle Building (5-8)
960 Warren St.
Huntington, IN 46750
260-356-1926
Fax-(260) 359-8419
HUNTINGTON CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT
HANDBOOK-SECTION I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Please note: HCP before a number (for example HCP002) designates a Huntington Catholic Policy.
P before a number (for example P4010) designates a Diocesan Policy.
PAGE
School Mission Statement 1
School Philosophy 1
School Partnership 1
Rights and Responsibilities 1
Principal-Teacher Rights 1
Student Rights 1
Student Responsibilities 1
Parental Responsibilities 1
Belief Statements and Goals 2
Belief Statements 2
Goals 2
Huntington Catholic School Leadership 2
Admission Policy (HCP002) 2
Students Enrollment (P4010) 2
School Admission Policy 2
Nondiscrimination Policy 2
School Entrance Requirements 3
Kindergarten Age Requirement 3
First Grade Entrance Requirement 3
Children With Exceptional Needs 3
Students or Prospective Students With Diseases 4
Admission Procedure 4
Grades PK-8 4
Preschool 4
Kindergarten 5
Student Transfer 5
Waiting List 5
Practice of the Catholic Faith Policy (HCP001) 5
Practice of the Catholic Faith 5
Religious Issues (P4410) 5
Pregnancy-Elementary Student 6
Pregnancy-High School Student 6
Abortion 7
Invalid Marriage 7
Tuition Policy (HCP008) 7
Procedure for payment of registration, book fees and tuition 7
Financial Assistance 7
Large Family Fund 7
SCRIP 7
Academics 8
Daily Schedule 8
Grade Retention 8
Promotion 8
Homework Policy 8
Homework Hotline 8
Grading Scale 9
Progress/Report Cards 9
Honor Roll 9
Band 9
Library Books 9
Science Fair 9
Physical Education Requirements 9
Medical Excuse 9
Parent Written Excuse 9
School Supplies 10
Textbooks 10
“Title I” Tutoring 10
Attendance Policy (HCP003) 10
Absence 10
Tardy 10
Tardy Policy for Unexcused Tardies 10
Medical Appointments 10
Attendance (P4040) 11
Absences From School 11
Absences Which Are Counted As Present 11
Excused Absences 11
Unexcused Absences 11
Truancy 12
Reporting An Absence 12
Frequent or Prolonged Illness 12
Response to Irregular Attendance 12
Vacations 12
Concerns Policy (HCP012) 12
Concerns Process Procedures 13
Level One-Verbal Appeal 13
Level Two-Written Appeal to the Principal 13
Level Three 13
Parent/Legal Guardian Concerns Procedure (P2310) 13
Discipline Policy (HCP005) 14
Discipline Code 14
Discipline Action Plan 14
Cafeteria and Playground Violations 14
Extreme Disciplinary Cases 14
Probationary Period 14
Grounds for Suspension or Expulsion of Students (P4520) 14
Disciplinary Review for Students (P4530) 15
Failure or Refusal of Parents/Guardians/Custodians to Participate in a Disciplinary
Proceeding (P4420) 16
Gun-Free Schools (P4560) 16
Detention 17
Suspension 17
In-School Suspension 17
Out-Of-School Suspension 17
Expulsion 17
Dress Code Policy (HCP004) 18
Huntington Catholic School Dress Code 18
Field Trip Policy (HCP009) 19
Privilege 19
Permission Form 19
Siblings 19
Chaperones 19
Transportation 19
Field Trips (P4320) 19
Cell Phones 20
Inappropriate Technology Use Off Campus 20
Search of Electronic Devices 20
Access to Electronic Information 20
Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP) 20
Purposes 20
Statements 21
Reservations 21
Prohibited Activities 21
Internet Usage 21
Diocesan Internet Acceptable Use Policy (P4620) 22
Background 22
School’s Responsibility 22
Acceptable Use 23
Unacceptable Use 23
Consequences for Violations of the Privileges 23
Parents/Guardians Responsibility 23
School Professionals Responsibility 24
Media Release 24
Fines Due 24
Lost and Found 24
Lunch and Milk Procedures 25
Charged Lunches 25
State Lunch Room Policies 25
Records 25
Right of Access 25
Non-Custodial Parent 25
Safe Environment Policy (HCP006) 25
Before and After School Procedures 25
Primary Building 25
Middle Building 26
Clothing for Outdoors 26
Drills: Fire and Tornado 26
Environmental Tobacco Smoke 26
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (P5430) 26
Leaving School Grounds 26
Medications 26
Prescription 26
Non-Prescription 27
Inhalers 27
Communicable Diseases 27
Money Sent With A Student 27
Non-School Related Crime 27
Students Accused of a Non-School Related Crime (P4550) 27
Personal Data 27
Playground Safety 28
Student Insurance 28
Student Locker/Desk Inspection 28
Student Locker and Vehicle Searches (P4590) 28
Persons and Personal Belongings 28
Student Lockers 28
Vehicles 28
Sexual/Racial Harassment Policy (HCP010) 29
Anti-Harassment Prohibition (P4580) 29
Substance Abuse 29
Substance Abuse (P4570) 29
Athletics/Extra Curricular Activities 30
Electronic Equipment 30
Communication 30
Calendar 30
School Cancellation/Delay 30
Family Envelope 30
Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences 30
School Pictures 30
Reaching Teachers By Phone 31
Primary Building Teachers 31 Middle Building Teachers 31
Students Use of the Phone 31
Yearbook 31
Booster Club 31
Athletic Gold/Black/White Club 31
Home and School Association (HASA) 31
Policy Review (HCP007) 31
Public Participation Policy (HCP014) 31
School Board 32
Student Council 32
Confidentiality Policy (HCP012) 32
School Administration (P1140) 32
Confidentiality 32
Students 32
Teacher and /or Staff Personnel Issues 32
Withdrawal Policy (HCP011) 33
Agreement Signed by Parents and Students 33
Right to Amend the Handbook 33
MISSION STATEMENT
Huntington Catholic School in partnership with
parents offers a Christ-centered learning environment from Preschool to Grade
Eight. With the support of the faith communities, our school reinforces
Catholic family values by:
Teaching the Catholic faith and virtues
Fostering Christ-like relationships by developing
self-esteem and promoting service to others.
Providing a strong academic curriculum
emphasizing the development of the whole person.
SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
The Christian Community of Huntington Catholic School
strives to create an atmosphere where total learning and development take place
within the context of the Catholic Faith Community. We treasure and proclaim
through our school what we know and experience of God and His world. In
affirming each other as unique creatures of God, we reverence life and
celebrate its events.
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
Enrollment in Huntington Catholic School is subject
to the approval of the Diocese and the Huntington Catholic School
administration. In order to foster an
environment which promotes the optimum educational and spiritual development of
the student, every parent/guardian of each student is expected to act as a
cooperative partner with the Diocese and School and comply with all policies
and rules which are established by the Diocese or School. The School retains the right to rescind
approval for the enrollment of any student if it determines that there is a
lack of cooperation on the part of the students’ parent/guardian and, as a
result, the withdrawal of the student would be in the best interest of the
student, the School, other students attending the School, or the fulfillment of
the School’s mission.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
PRINCIPAL-TEACHER RIGHTS:
Have the right to establish and enforce rules of
conduct in order to maintain a proper Christian atmosphere for learning. School
regulations are aimed to control behavior that disrupts the classroom,
interferes with discipline, or infringes on the rights of others. All parents
and students attending Huntington Catholic will respect and follow guidelines
established by the school.
STUDENT RIGHTS:
Students will be dealt with fairly; with an adequate
opportunity to present their position of a situation. Each student has the
right to...
- an
education
- an
atmosphere conducive to learning
-
fair treatment
-
receive consideration and concern of teachers and fellow students
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
-
try to achieve to the level of his/her ability
- do
their personal best on assigned work
-
attend school regularly and on time
-
behave in a way which will make school a pleasant place where all can learn
-
use and respect school property properly
-
follow all school regulations
-
respect the rights of other students and school staff
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
-
Encourage students to appreciate and respect themselves and their education
-
Support and respect the teachers and their decisions
-
Pay tuition and fees at the established times
-
Contribute to the support of the Church
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BELIEF STATEMENT AND GOALS
Belief Statements
We believe:
1.
Parents and Guardians are the child’s first teachers with the primary right and responsibility for the child’s
education.
2. A
strong partnership among parents, teachers, Church and community creates and promotes a successful Catholic
education.
3.
The dignity and uniqueness of the individual must be respected.
4.
Diversity within and among students must be acknowledged, accepted and embraced.
5.
Gospel values are taught, shared and integrated within every aspect of the school.
6. A
quality education is rooted in character and academic excellence, seeking to help children develop their fullest
potential in heart, mind, body and soul.
Goals
We at Huntington Catholic strive to:
1.
Ensure and maintain a standard of excellence in the academic curriculum.
2.
Integrate the Gospel values of message, community worship and service into the entire curriculum.
3.
Incorporate the basic beliefs of the Catholic faith into the religion curriculum.
4.
Create a strong climate of respect and responsibility.
5.
Instill a spirit of stewardship and global awareness.
HUNTINGTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Diocesan policy states that the leadership of
Huntington Catholic School or any Catholic Parish school is designed as
follows:
1.
Bishop
2.
Superintendent of Schools
3.
Pastors
4.
Principal
5.
School Board
The principal is charged with running the day-to-day
operations of the school. The School Board operates in an advisory capacity to
the principal and it is also an advocate of the school in the community at
large. The parish priests are the ultimate decision makers and approve all
policies.
All other school organizations, such as, Home and
School and Booster Clubs are under the authority of the principal.
ADMISSION POLICY (HCP002)
Huntington Catholic School shall follow and promote
an open enrollment policy accepting students according to Diocesan Policy P4010
and Parish Guidelines.
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4010) - Students Enrollment
I. School Admission Policy
Diocesan schools shall comply with state laws and regulations
regarding school enrollment and attendance to the extent possible, as
consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church and diocesan policy.
II. Nondiscrimination Policy
Diocesan schools shall follow and promote an open enrollment
policy accepting students without
regard to color, race, gender, or national origin, and reasonably
accommodate the disabled in its educational programs.
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III. School Entrance Requirements
A child can be enrolled only by a person having the legal custody
of the child. A certified copy of the
student’s birth certificate or a baptismal certificate shall be required for
original entrance at all grade levels.
Proof of legal custody may also be required in cases where a child does
not reside with both natural parents.
If these required documents are not provided to the school within
thirty (30 days) of the student’s enrollment or appear to be inaccurate or
fraudulent, the school shall notify the Indiana Clearing House for Information
of Missing Children (See P4030) and will cooperate with local authorities if
the child has been reported missing.
The custodian parent or legal guardian shall provide the name and
address of the school the student last attended, if any. The school shall request records from the
last school the student attended within fourteen (14) days.
Written proof that the child meets state and county health
requirements (immunization record) for enrollment shall be required.
IV. Kindergarten Age Requirement
Schools shall follow state law guidelines in enrolling Kindergarten students.
A child entering kindergarten must be five years old on or before
August 1, or date set by the state.
A school may choose to administer formal or informal assessment
for determining proper
placement in kindergarten.
NOTE: A child coming into a
diocesan school from an out-of-state kindergarten program or an in-state
kindergarten program and who does not meet the Indiana state age-eligibility
requirement should be admitted to a kindergarten program, unless it can be
determined that enrollment in such a program was intended to circumvent Indiana
law.
V. First
Grade Entrance Requirements
Indiana compulsory education begins when a child is officially
enrolled in school or the school year of the child’s 7th birthday,
whichever is earlier.
Students enrolling
in a diocesan school after successfully completing Kindergarten in another accredited school that has different
age requirements shall be allowed to continue in school without interruption because of
chronological age.
VI. Children with Exceptional Educational Needs
Children with exceptional educational needs requiring special
class placement are accepted if
their needs can be reasonably
accommodated in the school. Initial
enrollment should be on a tentative basis with the understanding that in the
event the exceptional needs of the child cannot be reasonably accommodated by
the school, the custodial parents or guardians will agree to enroll their child
in another school system which can accommodate the special needs of exceptional
children. Ordinarily when a diocesan school cannot reasonably accommodate the
exceptional needs of a child, a recommendation for special class placement should
be made to the custodial
parent or guardian by the principal,
after consultation with the child’s teacher (s). This recommendation can be for
either special class placement within the Catholic school or referral to a
public school for evaluation or placement. If the custodial parent or guardian
does not accept the school’s recommendation, it is expected that he/she will
place the decision in writing. In some
instances the custodial parent or guardian will be required to withdraw the
child if the child’s continued presence, in the opinion of school personnel,
would pose an undue hardship on the operation of the school or poses a threat
of harm to the student, other students or school personnel.
VII. Students
or prospective Students with Diseases
Catholic schools shall comply with all
applicable state law and all Board of Health policies regarding school
enrollment and attendance in relation to a student or prospective student
having a
communicable disease.
Prospective students who otherwise meet
all entrance requirements may not be denied admission solely on the basis of a
diagnosis of a disease unless required by applicable. state law or board of
health policy; similarly, students may not be excluded merely on the basis of a
diagnosis of a disease.
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However, as with any prospective student
who is diagnosed as having or is suspected of having a communicable disease, a
child with a communicable disease may be excluded, if after an individualized
assessment of the child’s condition, in accordance with the school’s
communicable disease policy/procedure, it is determined that the child’s
presence in the classroom would expose others to significant health and safety
risks.
Upon being informed that a child is
diagnosed as having or is suspected as having a communicable disease, a review
team consisting of the student; his/her parent/guardian; his/her physician; a
physician representing the school, parish, or diocese; and school or parish
administrators will be established to determine whether the child’s admission
or continued presence in school would expose others to significant health and
safety risks. In making its
determination the review team will conduct an assessment of the child’s
individual condition. The review team’s
inquiry will include findings of fact, based on reasonable medical judgments
given the state of medical knowledge about:
A. the
nature of the risk – how the disease is transmitted;
B. the
duration of the risk – how long the carrier is infectious;
C. the
severity of the risk – the potential harm to third parties;
D. the
probabilities the disease will be transmitted and will cause varying degrees of
harm; and
E. whether
a reasonable accommodation exists and/or is required.
The review must also take into
consideration the scope of the problem, education-related issues, and the
student’s right to confidentiality. The
recommendation of the review team and the decision of the parish and school
administrators shall be considered confidential and will be submitted for
review only to the Superintendent of Schools, Vicar of Education, and diocesan
attorney.
In the event it is determined that a
child is unable to attend regular Catholic day school, the parish, school, and
diocese will assist the parent or guardian in locating alternative educational
service and obtaining religious and catechetical instruction.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 10, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
ADMISSION
PROCEDURE
GRADES PK - 8
Huntington Catholic School gives preference according
to the following priority:
1.
Children of families presently enrolled in school.
2.
Children of families who are active registered members of the parishes.
3.
Children of families who are non-active registered members of the parishes.
4.
Children of families who are active members of other Catholic parishes.
5.
Children of families who are non Catholic.
These students must participate in all religious
activities
If there is no waiting list and no competition for an
open spot in a class, then the first candidate for the open spot will be
accepted.
Whenever there are indications that a child has an
Exceptional Educational need, the child should be referred to local public
school resources to determine what services the child is eligible. Huntington
Catholic School will cooperate with local public
school resources to meet student’s needs. If it is determined that the student
has needs unable to be met by HCS, reconsideration of his/her continued
enrollment will be reviewed by the school as well as parents and local public
school personnel.
PRESCHOOL
Children entering the Three Year old Preschool
program must be 3 years old by August 1 and toilet trained. Children entering the Four Year old Preschool
program must be 4 years old by August 1 and toilet trained. Proof of birth date is required. Any state or
county health requirements must be met.
4
KINDERGARTEN
Children entering Kindergarten must be 5 by August
1. Students who attain the age of 5 by
August 15 may be admitted with the permission of the principal. He/she must
also pass the Gesell test for Kindergarten readiness. Proof of birth date is required. Any State or health requirements must be met.
STUDENT TRANSFER
No student transferring into Huntington Catholic
School will be allowed to complete registration until the following conditions
are met:
1. A
copy of the most recent report card is read by the principal.
2.
The principal has the opportunity to speak to the releasing school’s
principal/teacher.
3.
Parents present a letter acknowledging any problems the student might have had
at the former school.
4.
The principal will interview the child(ren) and the parents. Receiving teachers
may be included in
the interview.
5.
Parents will sign a document acknowledging that they understand that their
child(ren)
will be
placed on a year probation period.
6.
Principal reserves the right to forego the preceding steps if he/she believes
the steps are
unnecessary.
Reasons for Immediate Expulsion:
1.
If required documents, such as birth certificate, school records, and
immunization records, are found
to be fraudulent. [Indiana Clearing House for Missing Children will be
notified]
2.
For disruptive behavior and/or poor academic performance.
WAITING LIST
Placement on a waiting list is determined by the date
the registration form and fee are received. Registration fees are not
refundable. (See page 4 “Admission Procedure” grades PK-8)
PRACTICE OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH POLICY (HCP001)
The teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church
are the guiding principles of behavior for all students while enrolled at
Huntington Catholic School. See Diocesan
Policy P4410
PRACTICE OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH
All children who attend Huntington Catholic are
required to attend religion classes and to attend all liturgical services that
the student body attends. Parents are urged to attend any liturgies that the
children attend and to participate in the Sunday and Holy Day obligations of
the Church.
Students will be expected to memorize specific
prayers according to their grade levels. Parents are encouraged to pray with
their children. The religion curriculum will encourage spontaneous and
meditative prayer.
All Catholic students in the second grade will
receive preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy
Communion. Students in the eighth grade will receive preparation for the
Sacrament of Confirmation.
During the month of May, all students in first
through eighth grades will be required to attend the May Crowning celebration.
During the Lenten season, students will be required to attend Stations of the
Cross
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4410) - Students
Religious
Issues
The teachings
and traditions of the Catholic Church are the guiding principles of behavior
for all students while enrolled in a diocesan school.
I. Pregnancy – Elementary Student
Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and
his or her life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception
until natural death. When a student(s)
becomes involved in a pregnancy, the Catholic school must act to provide
assistance and support for the student and his or her family.
5
While the first responsibility for the pastoral, spiritual, and
psychological care of the students involved in a pregnancy belongs to the
parents/guardians of the students(s), the Church and the school also bear
serious responsibility.
When a pastor/principal is made aware that a student(s) is involved
in a pregnancy, the following action shall be taken:
A. The
pastor and principal should meet with both parties, the male and female, and
their parents/guardians to investigate the situation and to assure them, if
necessary, that the young people involved will be provided with the opportunity
to complete his/her education in the Catholic school without interruption.
B. Both
parties, the male and female, should then be referred for pastoral counseling
given by a priest and a social worker or psychological counselor. This counseling must
emphasize
the teaching of the Catholic Church on the sanctity of human life from the
first moment of conception.
C. The
pastor and principal must seek to assist the young people to ensure that the
child is born, not aborted.
D. The school’s administration, after
consultation with the school’s pastor/designated
priest, will decide whether any sanctions
are to be imposed on the students.
Because of the public nature of the situation and the Catholic identity
of the school, the principal, in consultation with the pastor, reserves the
right to undertake whatever additional action(s) seem appropriate for the
well-being of the student(s) involved and the school as a whole.
II. Pregnancy –
High School Student
Every human being is created in the image
and likeness of God and his or her life must be respected and protected from
the moment of conception until natural death.
When a student(s) becomes involved in a pregnancy, the Catholic school
must act to provide assistance and support for the student and his or her
family.
If it has been discovered that a student
enrolled in a diocesan high school is pregnant or is the putative father of an
unborn or already-born child, the principal will conduct initial, confidential
meeting(s) inviting:
A. the
student(s) involved
B. the
parents/guardians of the student(s)
C. a
priest(s) assigned to the high school
The purpose of the meeting is to
investigate and, if necessary, to assure the parties involved that the
student(s) will be provided the opportunity to complete his/her education in
the Catholic school without interruption and also to emphasize the Church’s
teaching on the sanctity of human life.
In order to continue his/her education at
a diocesan high school, a pregnant student and/or a putative father and the
respective parents/guardians must agree to:
A. secure
continued professional prenatal/childrearing care and/or adoption alternatives
and
B. receive
pastoral and psychological counseling to assist in coping with the circumstances
and to be helped to make the right decisions in keeping with Church
teachings. (The schools
pastor/designated priest must approve all such professional assistance.)
The
school’s administration, after consultation with the school’s pastor/designated
priest, will decide whether any sanctions are to be imposed on the
students. Because of the public nature
of the situation and the Catholic identity of the school, the principal, in
consultation with the priest(s) assigned to the high school, reserves the right
to undertake whatever additional action(s) seem appropriate for the well-being
of the student(s) involved and the school as a whole.
6
III. Abortion
Every human being is created in the image
and likeness of God, and his or her life must be respected and protected from
the moment of conception until natural death.
The Church views
abortion as a grave violation of this
principle and the Catholic school must convey the seriousness of this act by
its inclusion of this issue in its teaching at appropriate grade levels and of
its policies.
Therefore a student enrolled in a
diocesan school who obtains a completed and verified abortion or who aids or
induces another person in any manner whatsoever in procuring such an abortion
shall be suspended immediately and may be denied the privilege of continuing
his or her education in a diocesan school, as determined by the Bishop.
A confidential meeting shall be held with
the student(s) and parent(s) involved, the pastor, the school principal, and a
person(s) designated by the Bishop. The
purpose of this meeting will be to
ascertain the fact relevant to the
commission of the abortion, to provide appropriate pastoral
assistance, and to make a recommendation
to the Bishop regarding the student’s suspension or expulsion.
IV. Invalid
Marriage
The school administration will defer the
decision regarding the disposition and continued enrollment of any student
entered into an invalid marriage to the Vicar of Education or a delegate of the
Bishop.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
TUITION POLICY (HCP008)
Families, whose children attend Huntington Catholic
School, are required to pay school tuition.
The Priests, after consultation with the Principal and Finance
Committee, determine the school tuition for each school year. The school principal in collaboration with
the pastors determines the book and registration fees.
PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION, BOOK FEES,
TUITION
The non-refundable registration fee is due by May 15
for the Fall school year. Books Fees are
due to the school office by August 5.
Tuition may be paid yearly, semester, quarterly or monthly. A tuition envelope will go home in the Family
envelope a week before your tuition is due.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Financial aid is available for students who are
registered in the parish attending Huntington Catholic. This aid is obtained
through the pastor of the Parish. You
must personally set up an appointment with your parish priest in order to
receive assistance.
LARGE FAMILY FUND-Any family with 3 or more children
in a Catholic School may apply for assistance from the Large Family Fund
through the Fort Wayne/South Bend Diocese.
There is a non-refundable application fee and you must receive
assistance from your parish in order to qualify. Applications are available in the school
office in the Spring for the following school year.
SCRIP PROGRAM-All families can earn 40% of the profit
from each SCRIP purchase to be applied to their family tuition for the
following school year. Encourage friends
and family members to participate in the program to the benefit of your family
and our school.
7
ACADEMICS
Daily Schedule
7:30 a.m. Teachers arrive
7:40
a.m. Students admitted to
classrooms in Middle Building
7:45
a.m. Classes start for Middle
Building
7:50
a.m. Students admitted to
classrooms in Primary Building
8:00
a.m. Mass or classes start for
Primary Building
11:20 a.m. Lunch
for Primary Building
11:55 a.m. Lunch
for Middle Building
2:45 p.m. Dismissal
3:15
p.m. Teachers leave
GRADE RETENTION
Periodically, there may be unusual circumstances
wherein children experience academic difficulty. If the difficulty is severe
enough to grossly inhibit a student’s success at the next grade level, the
teacher, principal and parents can decide to have the child repeat the current
grade. If that decision is made, the parents must sign a document that states
that intent. If a parent wants the child to move forward to the next grade in
spite of the cautions of the teacher and principal, the parents must sign a
statement that it is their wish to move the child forward to the next grade.
PROMOTION
Children who have completed the basic requirements of
the grade according to their ability or mental capacity will be promoted to the
next grade.
HOMEWORK POLICY
All students in grades K-8 will be assigned homework
on a regular basis throughout the school year as a reinforcement of the
learning at school. The students are
expected to return the completed homework by the assigned due date. Work is to be completed neatly and is to
reflect the best of the student’s ability. No written assignments will be
accepted on paper that is torn, crumpled, mutilated, stained, scribbled on, or
any combination of the above.
Approximate time students are expected to spend on
homework is as follows:
Kindergarten 15
- 20 minutes
Grades 1 - 2 20
- 30 minutes
Grades 3 - 4 30
- 40 minutes
Grades 5 - 6 45
- 60 minutes
Grades 7 - 8 60
- 90 minutes
Grades K-8 may be assigned homework Monday through
Thursday. Students in Grades 4-8 may be
assigned homework over the weekend.
If a parent requests homework for an absent child, it
may be done by phone or by note and must be requested as early as possible.
HOMEWORK HOTLINE
Classroom teachers will inform their parents of their
homework hotline number. Teachers will
update their homework hotline daily to insure parents are informed of homework
assignments.
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GRADING SCALE
A+/O+ 98-100 A/O 95-97 A-/O- 93-94
B+/S+ 90-92 B/S+ 87-89 B-/S 85-86
C+/S 82-84 C/S 79-81 C-/S 77-78
D+/S- 75-76 D/S- 72-74 D-/S- 70-71
F/U 0-69
“O”
(outstanding) “S” (satisfactory) “U” (unsatisfactory)
PROGRESS/REPORT CARDS
Progress reports are issued to students midway
through the grading period. Progress
reports must be
signed by parents/guardians and returned to school
within a week. Report cards are
distributed at the end of each quarter during the school year.
HONOR ROLL
High Honor Roll: Those students in Grades 4-8
achieving all A’s on his or her report card in all academic areas including
Computer, Music, Art and Physical Education.
Honor Roll:
Those students in Grades 4-8 achieving all A’s and B’s on his or her report
card in all academic areas including Computer, Music, Art and Physical
Education.
BAND
Students in Grades 6-8 may attend Band class at
Crestview Middle School. Since band
class is held during the day at HCS, it is the responsibility of the band
student to ask the teacher for any work he/she may have missed during the band
class. In the event HCS is not in
session, and Crestview is in session, it is the parents’ responsibility to see
that the band student attends band class at Crestview
LIBRARY BOOKS
Students may check out a book during assigned times
in the Library. Students are required to
pay for damaged or lost books. Fines are assessed (5˘ per day) if books are
returned late, unless the student was absent. The book must be returned to the
librarian upon the student’s return.
SCIENCE FAIR
Students in Grades 4-8 are required to participate in
the annual school Science Fair which is held in February/March. It is optional for students in Grades
K-3. Information is sent home in January
concerning the requirements. The science
classroom teacher will provide guidance and some class time to work on the
Science Fair projects. The project will
require time at home to complete.
Participation at the Regional Science Fair is optional for any student
placing in the top three from our local Science Fair.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
All children in grades 1-8 are required to have a short sleeved HCS “T”
shirt, black gym shorts (must be longer than mid-thigh) and athletic shoes (for
gym only). White socks required. No sweatpants allowed. Gym clothes must be separate from school
clothes.
Medical Excuse:
All students are expected to participate in gym
class. If there is a medical reason that
a student cannot participate in certain activities, please send a written
excuse signed by a physician.
Parental written excuses are valid for two gym
classes. However, after two consecutive gym classes
are missed, a doctor’s medical excuse may be requested. If a child is too sick to participate in
physical education classes, we consider them to be too sick to be in school.
9
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
At the end of the school year, students will receive
a list of school supplies they will need for the coming school year.
TEXTBOOKS
All textbooks are approved by the Diocese of Fort
Wayne/South Bend and the Indiana Department of
Education. All hardcover textbooks used by the
students are to be covered throughout the year in order to
preserve the book. Willful damage to any textbook
will result in the student being responsible for
replacement. Textbook fees are determined by the
Principal in collaboration with the pastors. Fees will be announced in mid May
and are payable before the start of the school year.
“TITLE 1” TUTORING
Children in Grades 1-4 who have reading and/or math
difficulties may be assigned to a Title I teacher. The public school system
dictates what grade levels may be served.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
(HCP003)
In compliance with Diocesan Policy P4040, all
students are expected to arrive in class on time in order to promote a positive
learning environment.
ABSENCE
If a student is absent from school, the parent is
required to call the school secretary by 8:00 a.m. If the school secretary has
not been notified of an absence by a parent, the secretary will call the
parent. In any case, the child returning to school must bring a note
explaining the absence so that the note can be kept in a yearly attendance file.
If a student is absent from school, he/she may not participate in any
extra-curricular activities that day.
PLEASE NOTE:
It is the responsibility of the student to make up
all class work missed due to absence. To
give teachers time to gather all assignments, homework for student absentees
may be picked up in the office at 2:45 p.m.
If a child misses more than 15 days of school per
year we may, with sufficient reason, be required by Diocesan rule to inform the
local Juvenile authority (Diocesan Policy 4040).
TARDY:
Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after
7:45 a.m. in the Middle Building or after
8:00 a.m. in the Primary Building. Tardy students MUST report to
the school office before they report to their classrooms. Chronic tardiness
will result in a conference with the principal and parents. Students
must bring a note for every tardy.
TARDY POLICY FOR UNEXCUSED TARDIES:
1.
Four (4) unexcused tardies will be allowed each semester.
2.
Fifth (5) tardy in a semester: The student will serve a 1-hour after-school
detention.
3.
After the fifth (5) tardy: Every tardy thereafter will result in an In-School
Suspension.
4. Eighth (8) tardy in a semester:
The parent and student will come before the Principal to develop and Attendance
Contract.
Excused Tardies consist of the following reasons: doctor, dental, and late school bus.
MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS (doctor, dentist,
etc..)
Every effort should be made to schedule medical and
dental appointments outside of regular school hours. If it cannot be avoided,
parents must send a signed note about the appointment to the office. For the medical appointment to be considered
excused, the student must bring written documentation of the visit from the
doctor’s office.
If for some reason a medical appointment is scheduled
and a student misses 2 1/2 hours of
school it shall be counted as 1/2 day absent. If a student misses more than 4
1/2 hours of school it shall be counted as a full day absent. This policy is
extended to all other reasons a child may miss the stated amount of time as
listed above. Haircuts or other non medical related
appointments will not be allowed.
10
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4040)-Students
Attendance
The Diocesan
schools consider the development of good attendance habits as a vital and
desirable undertaking for two essential reasons. First, it is difficult for young people to
learn if they are not in class: the
teaching-learning process builds upon itself.
Secondly, research sows that educational achievement is directly related
to attendance. A student who misses a
day of school misses a day of education that cannot be retrieved in its entirety.
I. Parents/Legal Guardian Responsibility
Parent(s)/legal guardians are responsible for having their
children in school. Indiana law
prescribes that parents must have their children in public or private school
from the age of seven (7) until the date on with the child:
A. Graduates; or
B. Reaches
at least sixteen (16) years of age or less than eighteen (18) years of age and:
1. the
student and the student’s parent or guardian and the principal agree to the
withdrawal; and
2. at
the exit interview the student provides written acknowledgment of the
withdrawal and the student’s parent or guardian and the school principal each
provide written consent of the student to withdraw from school; or
C. Reaches the age of
eighteen (18) years.
Whichever occurs first.
II. Absences from School
Absences from school shall fall into one of the three following
categories:
A. Absences which are
counted as present.
1. Serving
as a page for or honoree of the Indiana General Assembly
2. For
students in Grades 7 through 12, serving on a precinct election board or as a
helper to a political candidate or political party on Election Day with prior
approval of the principal;
3. Court appearances
pursuant to a subpoena;
4. Active
duty with the Indiana National Guard for not more than ten (10) days in a
school year;
5. Placement
in a short-term inpatient treatment program which provides an instructional
program;
6. Homebound
instruction;
7. Religious
observances.
B. Excused
Absences
1. Illness
of the student (with written statement by parent/ guardian or doctor)
2. Funerals
a. for death in
the immediate family
b. for persons outside of the immediate
family with parental permission
3. Out-of-school
suspension
4. Medical
and legal appointments – Such appointment should be scheduled after school
hours when possible.
5. School/college
visits (2 days) – Parents/guardians need to check with the individual school’s
policy when arranging such visits.
C. Unexcused
Absences
1. No
parent/guardian contact with the school giving an explanation for the absence
on the day of the absence.
2. No
physician’s note to excuse an absence once more than 5 days of absence have
occurred (see Frequent or Prolonged Illness below).
3. Family vacations
4. Absences
other than those defined as excused or absences counted as present.
11
III. Truancy
A student is truant when he/she is absent from school or class
without the permission of his/her parent/guardian and the school. Students who are habitually truant shall be
reported to the juvenile authorities in accordance with applicable state law
and following diocesan procedures:
The following may be evidence of habitual truancy:
A. Refusal to attend
school in defiance of parental authority.
B. Accumulating
a number of absences without justification over a period of time, such as a
grading period. Habitual truancy is not
evidenced by a single isolated incident of unexcused absence.
C. Three (3) or more
judicial findings of truancy.
V. Reporting an
Absence
A
parent/guardian shall contact shall contact the school to report a student’s
absence. Each school has established
procedures for reporting absences.
Absences will not be excused and the student may be considered truant if
the procedure for reporting an absence is not followed.
A written explanation for any absence
signed by a parent/guardian is required upon the return of the student to
school. The school is not required to
provide credit for makeup of assigned work missed because the student’s absence
is unexcused or the student is truant.
V. Frequent or
Prolonged Illness
If a student is absent for five
consecutive days due to illness, or has contracted a contagious disease, a
physician’s statement may be required in order for the student to return to
school.
VI. Response to
Irregular Attendance
If an irregular attendance pattern begins
to develop, the school may use the following procedure to encourage the
student’s return to a pattern of regular school attendance.
A. Call
daily from school (secretary, principal, or attendance clerk), to the
parent/guardian to verify absence and to determine reason.
B. After
a student is absent for six (6) days per school year, a school administrator,
attendance clerk, or counselor will make contact with the student’s
parent/guardian. The date and content of
this contact shall be documented.
C. After
a student is absent over twelve (12) days per school year, a conference shall
be held with the parent/guardian and the student. An attendance contract may be established at
this time and documentation shall be kept.
D. After
a student is absent over fifteen (15) days per school year, a referral shall be
made to the principal. If the principal
is unable to successfully resolve the attendance problem, a referral may be
made to the intake officer of the local Juvenile Probation Department.
Recommended: February 19,
2003 Diocesan School Board
Ratified: June 10, 2003 Diocesan Bishop
VACATIONS
Requests to remove children from school for reasons of
vacation is discouraged. However, if such a request is to be made, it must be
made in writing to the principal at a reasonable time in advance of the vacation
time. A student will be
recorded with
unexcused absences for the time missed due to a vacation. The student will also
be required to make up all work missed during that
time.
Vacations will not be approved during ISTEP testing
dates for grades 3-8, during ACRE testing dates for grade 5 & 8, and Core
40 testing for grade 8.
CONCERNS POLICY (HCP012)
To facilitate and promote the orderly and efficient
resolution of concerns, parents must follow the grievance procedures set forth
in Diocesan Policy P2310.
12
CONCERNS PROCESS
PROCEDURES
Huntington Catholic School operates on a policy by
which all concerns and complaints need to be addressed directly with and to the
person(s) involved. For example, if a parent has a concern about a teacher the
concern of that parent must be addressed with the teacher. Parents must not as
a matter of first choice call a board member, the principal or a pastor.
The following “Concerns Process” MUST be followed.
Nobody may skip any level of the Concerns Process. If this chain of
communication is not followed, the problem will not be addressed!
Level One - Verbal Appeal
Any parent/guardian who has a concern with or about a
school staff member will discuss the matter with
the person as soon as possible. The parent should
clarify the concern and present a possible solution. If a
negotiated settlement resolves the problem, the
process ends. If there is no resolution the parent may continue the process to
Level Two.
Level Two - Written Appeal to the Principal
If the motivating concern is not resolved at Level
One the parent will promptly submit a letter to the principal describing
his/her concern. The principal will attempt to resolve the problem in one of
the following manners:
1.
The Principal will convene the parties and attempt to reach a mutual agreement.
(Concerns in
which the Principal is the focus must
proceed as if the concern is Level One)
2.
The Principal can ask the pastors for assistance in ameliorating the concern.
At Level Two the
Pastors are looked upon as advisors.
Level Three - Within two days of receiving
the decision by the Principal, if the parent/guardian wishes to appeal to the
pastor(s), he/she may do so in writing.
The pastor(s) will respond in writing to all parties concerned regarding
his/their decision within 7 days of notification of the concern. At this point
the concern will end.
**All concerns usually carry an emotional component.
All parties to a concern must be warned to keep emotions under control.
Uncontrolled emotions can damage reputations, destroy careers and prevent any
objective resolution to a concern. Further uncontrolled emotions, verbal
vilification of another are totally outside of “Gospel Values” and have no
place in a Christian Community.
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (P2310) - Community Relations
Parent/Legal Guardian Concerns Procedure
To facilitate and promote the orderly and efficient
resolution of concerns, parents/legal guardians wishing to address and/or
question an academic area or situation regarding a specific teacher or
classroom procedure must follow the grievance procedure below:
Step 1: Address
the issues with the classroom teacher (or the person with whom he/she has the
problem.
Step 2:
Address the issue with the Principal
Step 3:
Address the issue with the Pastor (elementary schools only).
Step 4: If the
issue is not satisfactorily resolved, then the parent/guardian should place
his/her concerns in
writing
to the person involved and his/her supervisors (e.g. pastor and principal).
Parents/legal guardians should follow the steps set
forth in this policy, except where a situation is specifically covered under
another school or Diocesan policy which provides for a different reporting
procedure (e.g. harassment).
Policy Recommended: March 7, 2001 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: April 3, 2001 Diocesan
Bishop
13
DISCIPLINE
POLICY – HCP005
In accordance
with Diocesan Policies P4520, P4530, P4420 and P4560, disciplinary actions will
be taken by any faculty/staff for inappropriate student behaviors.
Discipline
Code:
Disciplinary
actions are corrective measures taken by a faculty member or administrator as a
response to inappropriate behavior. The
actions are designed to provide an appropriate reaction based on the
seriousness of the offense with the intent to have the student realize his/her
mistake, understand the school’s concern, and take appropriate actions to
change the inappropriate behavior. The
disciplinary measures will teach the students to take personal responsibility
for their behavioral choices by the practice of Reconciliation and
Penance. The teachers will handle all
minor discipline problems that occur in their
classrooms. They will communicate with parents concerning
problems that interfere with the learning environment, so the two can work
together to correct the problem.
Discipline
Action Plan:
Step 1:
All minor offenses are
handled by the teacher using his/her classroom discipline plan. When the student exhausts the options within
the teacher’s discipline plan, the student will be sent to the principal’s
office with a disciplinary referral.
Step 2: Community
Service
Step 3: After-School
Detention (up to one hour)
Step 4: After-School
Detention (up to two hours)
Step 5: In-School
Suspension - ISS (up to 1 full day)
Step 6: In-School
Suspension - ISS (up to 2 full days)
Step 7: Out-of-School
Suspension - OSS
*Parent
conference required prior to the student returning to school.
Step 8: Expulsion
(if necessary)
SPECIAL NOTE:
The principal reserves the right to give additional consequences for
inappropriate student behavior if the circumstances warrant. The additional consequences may include, but
not limited to, financial retribution for damage to school property, withdrawal
of privileges, and community service. A PARENT/STUDENT/TEACHER/PRINCIPAL
CONFERENCE MAY BE SCHEDULED DURING ANY OF THE ABOVE STEPS.
Cafeteria and
Playground Violations:
All major
problems that occur in the cafeteria and on the playground will be referred to
the principal. The students will be sent
with a disciplinary referral.
Extreme
Disciplinary Cases:
In the event of
extreme disciplinary cases that could result in suspension or expulsion, we
will follow the guidelines set by the Diocese of Ft. Wayne/South Bend. (Refer to Diocesan Policy 4530.)
Probationary
Period:
If a student
does not receive any additional disciplinary referrals for a period of 10 or
more weeks, then the next disciplinary referral would result in a repetition of
the most recent step in the discipline action plan.
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4520)-Students
Grounds
for Suspension or Expulsion of Students
I. The grounds for suspension or
expulsion below apply to student conduct which occurs:
A. On school grounds;
B. Off school grounds
at a school activity, function, or event;
C. Traveling
to or from school or a school activity, function, or event; or
D. At
any other time when the principal determines that the student’s conduct either
causes harm or could potentially cause harm to the other students, school
employees or property, or the reputation of the School or Diocese.
14
II. The
following types of student conduct constitute grounds for suspension or
expulsion subject to the school’s provisions for disciplinary review contained
in P4530.
A. Any
conduct which, in the opinion of school officials, is contrary to the
principles and teachings of the Catholic Church.
B. Using
violence, force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive
resistance, or other comparable conduct constituting an interference with
school purposes, or urging other students to engage in such conduct.
C. Causing
or attempting to cause damage to property belonging to any other person, student,
school employee or the school, stealing or attempting to steal property
belonging to any other person, student, school employee, or school.
D. Intentionally
causing or attempting to cause physical injury or intentionally behaving in
such a way that, in the opinion of school officials, could cause physical
injury to any person.
E. Threatening or
intimidating any individual for whatever purpose.
F. Possessing,
handling, or transmitting a knife or any other object which under the
circumstances and in the sole opinion of school officials could be considered a
weapon. A student who must use a knife
as a part of an organized activity held by an organization that has been
approved by school officials is exempt from this rule as along as the knife is
used as a part of or in accordance with the approved organization.
G. Possessing,
using, transmitting, or being under influence of any controlled substance or
intoxicant
of any kind. The prescribed use of a
drug authorized by a medical prescription from a physician is not a violation
of its use.
H. Engaging
in the unlawful selling of a controlled substance or engaging in a criminal law
violation that constitutes a danger to other students or constitutes an
interference with school purposes and/or educational function.
I. Failing
in a substantial number of instances to comply with directions of teachers or
other school personnel during any period of time when the student is properly
under their supervision.
J. Engaging
in any activity forbidden by the laws of the State of Indiana that interferes
with school purposes or education function.
K. Violating
or repeatedly violating any rules that are, in the opinion of the school
officials, necessary to carrying out school purposes and/or educational
function.
L. Using
on school grounds during school hours an electronic paging device or a
hand-held portable telephone in a situation not related to a school purpose or
educational function.
M. Engaging
in any unlawful activity on or off school grounds if the unlawful activity is
considered by school officials to be an interference with school purposes or
educational function.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4530)-Students
Disciplinary
Review for Students (Suspension or Expulsion)
Any student
accused of wrongdoing in violation of school or diocesan policy that could
result in the student’s suspension or expulsion from the school will be given:
1. An
explanation of what the student is accused of doing that is wrong; and
2. An
opportunity for the student, in the presence of the student’s parents, to
respond to the accusations before either the principal or impartial tribunal
established by the school’s administration for the purpose of making a
recommendation on the matter to the principal.
The principal
(in consultation with the pastor in the case of an elementary school) shall be
responsible to make a final decision on all such matters. The principal’s decision shall be final and
binding on all parties
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
15
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4420) - Students
Failure or
Refusal of Parents/Guardians/Custodians to Participate in a Disciplinary
Proceeding
The failure of
parents/guardians/custodians to participate in diocesan or school discipline
proceedings concerning their student’s improper behavior may be considered
educational neglect and the child may be considered a “child in need of
services” in accordance with I.C. 31-34-1-7, and, in that case, the matter
shall be referred to Child Protective Services.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
GUN FREE SCHOOLS
Students are prohibited from bringing firearms to
school or school functions. Further, students are prohibited from possessing
firearms on route to or from school or school activities or on school property.
A violation of this policy carries AUTOMATIC EXPULSION from school of not less
than one calendar year. This penalty supersedes any penalty which may be
attributed by a local school discipline policy. (Diocesan Policy P4560
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4560)-Students
Gun-Free
Schools
Students are
prohibited from bringing firearms to school or school functions. Further, students are prohibited from
possessing firearms en route to or from school or school activities or on
school property. A violation of this
policy carries an automatic expulsion from school of not less than one calendar
year.
Principals will
provide information to the Catholic Schools Office annually concerning the
following:
I. a description of circumstances
surrounding any expulsions imposed under the policy;
II. the number of students expelled from
the school under the policy; and
III. the types of firearms concerned. For purposes of this policy the term
“firearms” means:
A. any
weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be
converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; or
B. the frame or
receiver of any such weapon; or
C. any firearm
muffler or firearm silencer; or
D. any destructive
device. The term “destructive device”
means:
1. any
explosive, incendiary, or poison gas;
a. bomb;
b. grenade;
c. rocket having a
propellant charge of more than four ounces;
d. missile
having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce;
e. mine, or
f. device
similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses;
2. any
type of weapon by whatever name known which will, or which may be readily
converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other
propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than one-half inch in
diameter; and
3. any
combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any
device into any destructive device in subparagraph (1) or (2) and from which a
destructive device may readily be assembled.
(Source 18 U.S.C.921)
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
16
DETENTION
After school detentions may be assigned by a teacher
or the principal. Students will be
notified at least a day before and told of the length. Students must make arrangements for
transportation home and leave immediately following the end of detention. Pupils who for a good reason cannot stay for
the scheduled detention must bring a written note from parents.
Sports practices or games are NOT acceptable reasons
for deferring a detention. Failure to
serve the detention on the assigned day without a written parental excuse to
the teacher will result in another after school detention or other suitable
disciplinary action.
**Repeated detentions are cause for suspension or
other disciplinary action.
SUSPENSION:
The principal determines when it’s necessary to
exclude a student from school for disciplinary reasons or other reasons.
Students will be given an informal hearing before a suspension is imposed,
except in cases of extreme emergency (Diocesan Policy 4520).
IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION:
An alternative to out-of-school suspensions may be
the in-school suspension. The student is removed from the regular
classroom setting and is ISOLATED within the school for the length of the
school day. Academic work is given to the student to complete.
- The student MUST complete ALL work, assignments,
and tests that may be given to him/her during their suspension.
OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
A
student may receive an out-of-school for the following (but not
limited to):
-
proven delinquency and immorality
-
damaging school property
-
fighting
-
truancy
-
incorrigible behavior which prevents the progress of other students
-
serious contempt for authority
-
having or using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs in similar cases
**Parents
will be notified of the suspension and the course of action to be followed
before the child will be readmitted into school.
EXPULSION:
Expulsion from school is a serious matter and will be
used only in extreme cases when everything else has failed. Any child who needs a change of school may be
advised to enroll in another school for benefit of the student. The principal, in consultation with the
pastor, has the right to expel a student from school.
*In cases of SUSPENSIONS or EXPULSIONS, please refer
to Diocesan Policy 4530.
DRESS CODE POLICY (HCP004)
All students in grades kindergarten to eight will
follow Huntington Catholic School dress code.
17
Huntington Catholic School Dress Code 2009-10
PANTS/SHORTS/GAUCHOS:
Solid Colors:
Black, Brown, Green, Khaki Tan, or Navy Blue. Dress Slacks (casual dress): “Dockers”-style,
Cargo, Corduroy, “Patch-pockets” with small appliqués are accepted. All other styles are not permitted
During the months of August, September, April, May,
and June, capris, and shorts may be worn. Shorts should be no shorter than 4
inches above the knee. (Teacher discretion)
SKIRTS/JUMPERS/SKORTS: Solid Colors: Black, Brown, Green Khaki Tan, Navy
Blue, or
plaid. They should
be no shorter than 4 inches above the knee.
(Teacher discretion), and have no slits.
BELTS: Belts
must be worn if the article of clothing has belt loops.
SHIRTS:
Any Solid Color permitted, “Polo”-type pull-over shirts, with sleeves (solid
colored long- sleeved
button-down shirts with
collar and sleeves, turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks.
Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Shirts that show cleavage or stomach are not
permitted.
SWEATERS:
Any color or print permitted. V-neck,
Crewneck, Cardigan and sweaters with
zippers and/or hoods are permitted with a collared shirt underneath. Solid-colored fleece pullovers are also
acceptable. Sweatshirts and Tight
Sweaters are not permitted. Sweaters are
not permitted to be worn around the waist.
FOOTWEAR: Socks are required for
boys. Socks, hose, or tights are required for girls. Sandals with backs
are permitted with socks. Shoes with built-in roller skates, backless
shoes/sandals, pumps and high heels
are not permitted. (Applies to Dress-Down Days,
Dress-Up Days, Black & Gold Days, Game Days and
Scout Meeting Days)
MISCELLANEOUS: Earrings for girls may not extend below the earlobe. Boys are not permitted to wear earrings. Body paint, tattoos, and body piercing other
than earrings are not permitted for any student. Sundresses and spaghetti-strap dresses are
not permitted to be worn to school.
DRESS UP DAYS: During All-School Liturgies, students must either wear dress clothes or
dress code attire. Girls may wear modest
dresses of any color with sleeves and dress shoes with a small heel. Boys may wear dress shirts (coat and tie are
optional). No shorts, skorts, or
capris. Belts are required if article of
clothing has belt loops. Not permitted: The same as the above sections.
DRESS-DOWN DAYS: The following items are not
permitted on dress-down days: Alcohol, Tobacco advertisements, or Music groups
are not allowed on the shirts or pants; nor wording that is inappropriate or
offensive; excessively tight clothing; shirts that show off midriffs or
cleavage; sleeveless shirts, tank tops, excessively baggy pants, and
sweatpants. Belts are optional.
BLACK & GOLD DAY: During Black
& Gold Day, students are encouraged to wear their school colors.
Black and/or Gold must be the dominate color on the
article of clothing. Students may wear
black wind pants and black or blue denim pants.
Students may also wear HCS sweatshirts.
Belts are optional. Not Permitted: The same as the dress down days.
GAME DAYS: Students are allowed to wear School-Sponsored TEAM
jerseys, TEAM sweatshirts, or TEAM shirts on game days only. The team must agree on which item each member
will wear on game days. Dress code pants
with belts and a collared shirt under jerseys must be worn on game days.
SCOUT MEETING DAYS: Students
participating in scouts may wear their scout uniform on meeting days only. If the uniform does not include pants, then
the students must wear dress code pants with belt.
*THE PRINCIPAL RETAINS THE
RIGHT TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE DRESS CODE
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FIELD TRIP POLICY HCP009
All school sponsored field trips at Huntington
Catholic School will adhere to the Diocesan Policy P4320, facilitate attainment
of specific educational objectives, submitted in writing and approved by the
school principal. The number of trips
taken will also be at the discretion of the school principal.
FIELD TRIP PROCEDURES
Privilege:
Field trips are privileges afforded to students; no
student has an absolute right to a field trip. Students can be denied
participation if they fail to meet academic or behavioral requirements.
Permission form:
Parents are notified of the trip by letter at least
one week prior to the planned trip, when possible. Written permission using the
proper form is required, otherwise the student will not be allowed to
participate in the field trip. A two (2) day grace period past the due date
will be given. After the grace period if
the permission slip is not turned in, the child may not attend the trip. He/she will be required to come to
school.
TELEPHONE CALLS OR A LETTER WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN
LIEU OF THE PROPER FORM.
Chaperones:
For Preschool and Kindergarten, the ratio of adult
chaperones is one adult per five (5) students. For grades 1 - 5, the ratio is
one adult per seven (7) students. For grades 6 - 8, the ratio is one adult per
ten (10) students. Chaperones and drivers are not permitted to bring siblings (other
children) on field trips.
Transportation:
When adults are needed to drive for field trips or
special events, the following must be verified by the driver:
1.
The driver must be 21 years of age or older.
2.
The driver must have a completed background check on file with the school.
3.
The driver must have a valid, non-probationary driver’s license and no physical disability that may impair the
ability to drive safely.
4.
The vehicle must have a valid registration.
5.
The vehicle must be insured for minimum limits of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per occurrence.
6.
A signed Volunteer Driver Information Sheet must be submitted to the school
office.
7.
Each passenger must be in a seatbelt.
8. All
children under the age of 8 or 80 pounds are required by Indiana State Law to
ride
in a booster seat or car seat.
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4320)-Students
Field
Trips
School-sponsored
field trips shall be limited to activities, which meet Diocesan policy and
applicable law by
promoting the
educational philosophy and goals of the school, and facilitate attainment of
specific educational objectives in a particular course. (This policy prohibits all field trips to
amusement parks).
Teacher requests
must be submitted in writing when seeking approval by a school
administrator. The
requesting
teacher is required to accompany the students on approved field trips but is
discouraged from transporting the students.
(See School Administrative Handbook)
I. Field
trips involving long distances or overnight stays shall follow diocesan
guidelines.
A. Such
trips should be well planned. Full
information should be given to parents and the proper permission slips should
be signed. Adequate supervision by
prepared adults should be in place for such trips. A car and/or bus roster must be compiled.
B. In
the case of overnight, out-of-town trips, e.g., retreats, the trip must
facilitate attainment of specific documented educational objectives. The following guidelines must be followed:
1. Medical
Authorization Release forms (School Administrative Handbook)
2. Carrier Insurance
coverage.
19
3. Documentation
of educational purpose (Educational Related Activities form – School
Administration Handbook).
4. Adequate
supervision
C. Insurance
liability coverage also demands strict observance of the above criteria.
D. All
school rules apply on a field trip, however discipline is more stringent.
Behavioral expectations shall be clearly defined and applied consistently.
E. If
the principal is not present, the teacher in charge of the field trip shall be
the on-site representative of the principal.
The following
alternatives to out-of-town field trips should be considered:
F. Field
trips can enrich classroom learning and open new areas of interest for the
student. Schools are encouraged to use
the vast resources of the diocesan area for one-day field trips for students,
which meet the criteria established in the policy.
G. The
use of the camps for retreats and environmental education and camping offer new
learning situations that will compliment classroom learning.
See “Field Trip Permission, Release and
Medical Authorization Form”;
“Emergency Medical Care Consent/Refuse to
Consent Form”; and
“Educational Related Activities Request
Form” in the School Administrative Handbook.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
CELL PHONES
Students must turn their cell
phones into the office at the beginning of the day and retrieve them from the
office at the end of the day.
INAPPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY USE OFF CAMPUS
Huntington Catholic School reserves the right to
impose consequences for inappropriate behavior that takes place off campus and
outside school hours. Thus,
inappropriate use of technology (for example, on a home computer), may subject
the student to consequences.
Inappropriate use includes harassment, use of school name, remarks
directed to or about teachers, offensive communications and safety threats.
Huntington Catholic School does not, however,
actively monitor student use of technology (Internet blogs, chat rooms,
etc.). While our filtering system
establishes some parameters for appropriate use within our buildings, students
and parents/guardians are primarily responsible for the appropriate and ethical use of technology, especially in
the home.
SEARCH OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Huntington Catholic School reserves the right to
search any electronic device brought to school.
Parents are implicitly implying we have the right to search, if their
child brings an electronic device to school.
ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
Each student must have on file an Acceptable Usage
Policy (AUP) in order to use all technology equipment and software at HCS. Any violation of this policy may result in
loss of access to the Internet, network and/or technological equipment.
Consequences for AUP INFRACTIONS:
Step
1: Student submits a statement as to why the infraction took place and a
written warning is
issued. Consequences are dealt with on a case by case
basis, which may include probation for a certain amount of time, limited use of
technology equipment, loss of certain technology privileges, etc. The student is advised about the consequences
in Step 2.
Step
2: If the student violates the policy for
the second time, possible consequences could include
technology
privileges being revoked for an extended period of time up to permanent loss of privileges, suspension, and/or being
personally responsible for the cost of repairs (time and labor) and/or new
equipment. Each case will be dealt with
individually and will be based upon the infraction that was violated.
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ACCEPTABLE USAGE POLICY (AUP)
Policy on Access to Electronic Information
(Each faculty, staff, student, and volunteer must
have this form on file in order to utilize the technology equipment at HCS)
Purpose: To encourage Faculty, Staff, students and volunteers
to properly utilize technology in an effort
to more effectively fulfill the Catholic Schools Office Mission Statement. Technology functions
to expand our educational opportunities and provide a framework in which our educational
activities can be monitored for Mission Statement compliance.
Statements: In order to support and supplement Diocesan Policy
relating to technology implementation
and
use:
Ÿ
All digital and analog communications
received from, transmitted by, or stored in
Ÿ
Huntington Catholic School systems are the
property of Huntington Catholic
School,
which is part of the Diocese.
Ÿ
All equipment and software must be used
for educational purposes in the
support
of the Catholic Schools Office Mission Statement (Use of equipment
and
systems for personal or non-job/non-school related reasons must pre-
approved
by school administration.)
Ÿ
All communication and information
resources including all forms of storage
media
may by subject to review by the Principal, Technology Coordinator, or
Diocesan
Administrator. (Users should not expect
the files stored on school owned computers
are private.
Ÿ
Access to the Internet and local area
network is at the discretion of school
Administration. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility.
Ÿ
Any deliberate tampering or misuse of
Huntington Catholic School network
Ÿ
Services or equipment will be considered
vandalism and will be handled as such.
Ÿ
To the extent that any revisions of the
policy conflict with Diocesan policy,
Diocesan
policy shall prevail over any revisions by individual schools.
Reservations: Huntington Catholic School reserves the right to
modify, suspend, or terminate this
Policy
at any time with or without notice.
Huntington Catholic School makes no
Guarantees
of any kind, neither express nor implied, for the Internet assess it provides.
Huntington
Catholic School will not be responsible for any damage users suffer or for
Unauthorized
financial obligations resulting from Internet Access.
Prohibited Prohibited activities include but are not limited to
the following:
Activities: 1. Access,
upload, download, or distribution of pornographic, obscene, discriminatory,
defamatory, sexually explicit, offensive,
or otherwise inappropriate material.
2. Transmission of abusive, obscene,
discriminatory, defamatory, sexually explicit,
or offensive language.
3. Use of software or hardware utilities on
Huntington Catholic School network that may
compromise security or tax network
resources (except for approved support
4. Upload, download, or install software on
school computers that is not licensed for
Huntington Catholic School and approved by
the Technology Coordinator.
5. Upload, download, or installation of
copyrighted materials
6. Violation or any Diocesan policy, or any
local, sate, or federal law, statue, rule, or
Any violation to this policy may result in loss of
access to the Internet, network and/or technological equipment. Additional disciplinary action may be taken
as determined appropriate by the administration or Diocese. A violation of this policy by an employee may
result in termination of employment with the Diocese. When and where applicable, law enforcement
agencies may be notified of any violations of the spirit or the letter of this
policy.
INTERNET USAGE
Huntington Catholic shall follow
the Diocesan Internet Policy. Parents are required to sign the Diocesan
Internet Contract in order to
permit their child to use the Internet for educational purposes. (Diocesan Policy P4620)
21
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4620)-Students
Diocesan Internet Acceptable
Use Policy
I. Background
The Internet is an “electronic highway”
connecting millions of computers all over the world and
millions of individual users, allowing students
access to communicate with fellow students all over
the planet. The Internet is an international
collection of thousands of independent networks. It links tens of thousands of computers with
the ability to communicate as if on a single network. The Internet provides a means for people to
interact and associate with others.
Internet access is now available to students and
teachers in many of our Catholic schools.
The access is being offered as part of a collaborative project involving
the school and a local Internet
Service Provider. Our goal in providing this service to
teachers and students is to promote educational excellence by facilitating
resource sharing, innovation and communication.
Electronic information research skills are now
fundamental to the preparation of citizens and future employees during an Age
of Information. It is expected that
staff will blend thoughtful use of such information throughout the curriculum
and assist students in the appropriate use of such resources.
Use of the Internet enhances the present
curriculum of diocesan schools. The
Internet is a tool for motivation for increasing reading and writing skills. It
is a resource for information and for classroom research projects and other
studies related to the curriculum. It
provides communication with professionals in every field.
Use of the Internet is determined to be a
privilege and not a right of the students in the Catholic schools. As such, Internet usage will be regulated.
II. School’s Responsibility
The diocesan Catholic schools will each employ a
statement of policy stating the Acceptable Use of the Internet in the school
and utilize written Internet User and Permission Agreements. These written agreements are to be signed by
students, their parents/guardians, and teachers. They outline the agreed to terms and conditions
of Internet use and shall be kept on file.
The policy specifically sets out acceptable uses, rules of on-line
behavior, and access privileges. It also
covers the penalties for violations of the policy, including security
violations and vandalism of the system.
A sample policy is provided for all schools by the Catholic Schools
Office.
All use of the Internet must be in support of
education and research and consistent with the
purposes and Christian mission of Catholic
schools. Students are responsible for
good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a
school hallway.
Communications on the network are often public
in nature. General school rules for
behavior and
communications apply. The network is provided for students to
conduct research and to
communicate with others. Access to network services will only be
provided to students after they agree to act in a Christian, considerate and
responsible manner.
Independent student use of telecommunications
and electronic information resources will be permitted upon submission of
permission forms that include guidelines for the student’s
responsibilities. Based upon the acceptable use guidelines
outlined here, the Catholic school administrators will deem what is appropriate
and inappropriate and their decision is final.
The
administration, faculty, and staff of the school
may request the principal to deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts
when violations occur.
The school is not liable for information stored
on school diskettes, hard drives or servers; for information retrieved through
school computers, networks, or on-line resources; for personal property used to
access school corporation computers, networks, or on-line resources; or for
unauthorized financial obligations resulting from use of Diocesan resources and
accounts to
access the Internet.
22
III. Acceptable Use
The use of the Internet and related technologies
must be in support of education and research and consistent with the
educational objectives, purposes, and mission of the Catholic schools. Use of
other organizations’ networks or
computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate for these networks.
Individual users of the computer networks are
responsible for their behavior and communications
over those networks. It is imperative that users comply with the
school’s standards and honor the
agreements they have signed.
Network storage areas may be treated like school
lockers. School administrators may review files and communications to maintain
system integrity and ensure that students are using the system responsibly and
consistent with the acceptable uses outlined herein. Users should expect that files stored on
school servers will not be private.
A defined network etiquette is followed.
IV. Unacceptable Use
The use of the Internet connection in the school
is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a
cancellation of those privileges. The
Catholic school administrators will deem what is appropriate and inappropriate,
and their decision is final. The following are not permitted:
A. Accessing, uploading, downloading, or
distributing immoral, pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit materials.
B. Sending or displaying unchristian,
immoral, offensive, violent, pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit
messages or pictures.
C. Using violent, abusive, obscene or
sexually explicit language.
D. Harassing, insulting, or attacking
others.
E. Damaging computers, computer systems,
or computer networks or attempting to harm or destroy data of another user.
F. Violating copyright laws.
G. Unauthorized use of another’s password.
H. Trespassing in others’ folders, work, or files.
I. Intentionally wasting resources.
J. Employing the network for commercial
purposes
K. Transmission
of any material in violation of any federal, state or local law, regulation,
rule or ordinance.
Additionally, malicious use
of the network to develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a
computer or computing system and/or damages the software components of a
computer or computing system is prohibited.
V. Consequences For
Violations of the Privileges
The faculty, staff, or parents/guardians may
request the administrator or designee to deny, revoke, or suspend a specific
student user’s access to the Internet and
related technologies due to
unacceptable use. Internet policy is stated in
the school handbook. Additional
disciplinary action may be taken at the school in accordance with existing
disciplinary practice as stated in the school handbook and/or Diocesan policy.
When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.
VI. Parents’/Guardians’ Responsibility
During school, teachers will guide students in
accessing appropriate materials. Outside
of school,
families must bear responsibility for such
guidance as they also must with information sources such as television,
telephones, movies, radio, and other potentially offensive media. It is the
family’s right to decide whether or
not to apply for the student’s independent
access to an Internet account. The
school administration and teachers believe that the benefits to students from
access in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration
exceed the disadvantages. Parents/guardians accept responsibility for guidance
of Internet use, setting and conveying standards for the child to follow when
selecting, sharing or exploring information and media.
23
Parents/guardians will be responsible for any
financial obligation incurred through the use of Internet and related
technologies that are not specifically previously approved and included as part
of the school’s budget. Parents/guardians
are required to sign a Permission Form and an Acceptable Use Policy with their
child. Students may not access networked computer services such as electronic
mail and the Internet without this express permission. Individuals and families may be held liable
for violations. Parents/guardians will be notified that their children will be
using school resources and accounts to access the Internet. Parents/guardians have the option to request
alternative activities not requiring Internet access.
VII. School Professionals’ Responsibility
The students will, in most cases, be closely
supervised during usage of the network. Precaution will be taken that they are
instructed on proper usage when they are working independently. Students may pursue electronic research
independent of staff supervision only if they have been granted parental permission
and have submitted all required forms. Permission is not transferable and may
not be shared.
Staff will provide training in the proper use of
the network. They will provide developmentally appropriate guidance to students
during students’ use of telecommunications
and electronic information resources to conduct research and other studies
related to the school curriculum. As
much as possible, access to the network will be designed to point students to
resources which have been evaluated by staff, and students shall be provided
with guidelines and lists of information particularly suited to the learning
objectives.
The smooth operation of the network relies upon
the proper conduct of the ones who use it.
They must adhere to strict guidelines.
These guidelines include the responsibilities of not violating the
privacy of other users, the right of free
expression, and not plagiarizing other users’ works.
With access to computers and people all over the
world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be
of educational value in the contexts of the school setting and the
school’s purpose and
Christian mission. In some schools a
limited precaution has been taken to restrict access to controversial materials
by using special software (for example, Surfwatch or Cybersitter).The
technology facilitator is responsible for determining and uncovering incorrect
usage of the Internet and also for informing school authorities and the student
in question. The facilitator reserves
the right to inspect accounts when there is suspicion of misuse. The student is responsible for adhering to
all rules and guidelines while on-line with the Internet.
See (Individual) “Catholic School Internet
Acceptable Use Policy”; “Internet User and Parent/Guardian Permission
Agreement”; “Acceptance of Parent/Guardian Form”; and
“Acceptance of Sponsoring Teacher/Technology
Facilitator Form” in the School Administrative Handbook.
Recommended:
February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June
30, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
MEDIA RELEASE
Each student must have the Media
Release Permission Form on file to recognize the academic, co-curricular and
service accomplishments of our students in including but not limited to one or
more of the following: a newspaper, newsletter, website, and yearbook
FINES DUE
Students will not receive report cards until all
fines are paid at each quarter. All fees, fines, lunch money, and tuition must
be paid before students will receive a report card on the last day of school.
Twenty-five cents ($.25) is charged for extra copies of permission slips, (etc...),
which are lost by the student.
LOST AND FOUND
Parents are asked to label/mark all clothing, boots,
tennis shoes, gym shoes, etc. Each building has a separate lost and found area.
Please have your child check these areas if something comes up missing. At the end of the school year, all left over
items will be donated to Goodwill.
24
LUNCH AND MILK PROCEDURES
Huntington Catholic School is a closed campus;
therefore, students are not permitted to leave the school grounds.
Hot lunch and milk is available to all students at
both buildings. It is preferred that students pay for their lunches by the
week. Milk should be paid for at the
time it is received.
HCS offers free and reduced lunches to those who qualify.
Guidelines and application forms are sent home at the beginning of the year,
but are available upon request at any time.
Charged lunches:
Lunches may be charged for only two days. We then send a note home reminding the parent
of the policy and request payment. We
serve the child on the third day regardless of payment but then call the parent
if payment isn’t forthcoming. Additional payments will be applied to the next
week’s lunch fees. Any overages will be
sent home at the end of the school year.
State lunchroom polices:
No fast food may be brought into the cafeteria at
lunch time. If students are not eating
hot lunch, they must bring a sack lunch from home. No soda pop may be purchased during lunch
time
RECORDS
Right of Access:
Parents have a right to review their children’s
records. They also have the right to
request that statements be changed or deleted. Notification of request to view
student records must be made in writing twenty four
hours in advance of viewing the records. The school has
the right to refuse changing or deleting the records. Statements made by the
parents will be included in the record. (Diocesan Policy 4170)
Non-Custodial Parent:
The school abides by the provisions of the “Buckley
Amendment” with regard to the rights of non-custodial
parents. If there is no court order denying a
non-custodial parent the right to view student records, that parent will be
allowed to view such records. If there is a court order denying the
non-custodial parent access to student records, it is the responsibility of the
custodial parent to present the school with a copy of such an order.
FURTHER, IF THERE IS A COURT ORDER THAT DENIES A
NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT THE RIGHT OF CONTACT WITH A STUDENT, THE CUSTODIAL PARENT
MUST PRESENT SUCH ORDERS TO THE SCHOOL AND MUST DISCUSS THE REASON SUCH A COURT
ORDER WAS GIVEN WITH SCHOOL STAFF
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY (HCP006)
Huntington Catholic School will provide a safe
environment for all students and staff.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Huntington Catholic School cannot provide supervision
of students who are dropped off at either building prior to 7:30. The following
rules are to be practiced by the parents:
PRIMARY BUILDING:
Morning: -Parents are to drop their children off
between 7:30 - 7:50.
-Parents
are to enter the North parking lot from Poplar St.
-Drop
off students at the auditorium steps and exit to Cherry St.
-Do
not park in this parking lot
-
If later than 7:50, students must use the Cherry St. door.
Afternoon: -Car riders are to be picked up on the
North parking lot.
-Parents
may enter the North parking lot from Poplar Street.
-After
parents have picked up their child, they exit North parking lot to Cherry St.
Be sure that all children are safely in the vehicle,
and the parking lot is clear before driving away.
25
MIDDLE BUILDING:
Morning: -Parents are to drop children off on
the parking lot off Jefferson Street between 7:30-7:40
-Students
are to wait in the East hallway (facing Warren St.) until 7:40
Afternoon: -Parents are to pick your child up in the
West parking lot.
-Parents
need to find a safe parking spot away from the school building so that the school bus will have easy access in and
out of parking lot.
Be sure that all children are safely in the vehicle,
and the parking lot is clear before driving away.
Both Buildings - Students must leave the building right
after dismissal unless they have made
previous arrangements with a
teacher or they have an extra-curricular activity right
after-school. Children may not be in the building
unsupervised.
CLOTHING FOR OUTDOORS
During the winter months all students are expected to
wear proper clothing in the interest of good health and safety. The school
takes the position that what the student is allowed to wear to school by
parents is acceptable for that child to wear outdoors for recess.
It is in the best interest of the child to keep warm
clothing such as gloves and stocking hats in their lockers at school in the
event that cold weather requires them to be worn to go outside for recess. Primary Building students will have outside
recess if the temperature is 20 degrees or above including the wind chill.
DRILLS: FIRE AND TORNADO
Fire drills and tornado drills are taken very
seriously and are practiced regularly by the entire school body throughout the
year. Tornado drills are practiced twice each semester. Fire drills are
practiced monthly. If a parent is within either school building when a fire
drill or tornado drill occurs, that parent must participate in the drill by
following whichever class is closest and will move with that class to the
appropriate area.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE
Both school buildings in which Huntington Catholic
School is housed shall at all times be smoke free. No person whether an
administrator, employee, student, parent, parishioner or visitor will be
allowed to smoke in these buildings (Diocesan Policy 5430).
Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend (P5430)
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Effective January 1, 1995, all facilities (buildings
which are enclosed) where kindergarten, elementary, and/or secondary education
or library services are being provided to children shall be smoke free. No one, whether an administrator, an
employee, a student, or a visitor is allowed to smoke in these buildings while
such services are being provided to children.
Recommended: February 11, 2004 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: December 14, 2004 Diocesan
Bishop
LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS
Both buildings are closed buildings. No student may
leave school during the school day unless accompanied by a responsible adult;
or a note has been sent by a parent. Upon leaving in such a case the student
must be signed out, and if returning the student must report to the office.
Leaving school grounds without permission is an act
of “truancy”. The consequences for this act will be suspension/expulsion (Diocesan
Policy 4530). If a student leaves
the school grounds without permission during an extra-curricular activity, then
the student will be removed from that activity for the duration of the season
with the possibility of additional consequences by the school principal.
MEDICATIONS
Prescription:
School personnel are forbidden by law to administer
any drugs or medication to students which is taken internally unless explicit
and written permission with directions are given by the
parent/guardian or attending physician. Parents MUST drop off the prescribed
medicine to the office, as the State prohibits students from transporting the
medicine via school bus. Parents
MUST pick up any unused medicine.
26
Non Prescription:
Huntington Catholic School discourages sending
non-prescription medication to school. However, if necessary, parents must send
a note to the secretary giving permission for use during the day. This
includes cough medicine, aspirin, etc... This non-prescription medication
must be kept in the office. No medication may be taken to the classrooms. Parents MUST drop off and pick up the
non-prescription medicine.
Inhalers:
Your child may carry his/her prescribed inhaler at
all times, but the proper Diocesan form MUST be signed by the parent/guardian
and doctor. This form can be obtained through the school office. It will then
be kept on file.
Communicable Diseases:
Students with head lice, pink eye (conjunctivitis),
or other communicable diseases must be excluded from
school until symptoms are no longer apparent. School
officials rely on the directives from the Huntington County Health Department
in judging these cases.
MONEY SENT WITH A STUDENT
When it becomes necessary to send money to a teacher
or to the office it should be in a sealed envelope
with the following information on the outside: the
student’s name and grade, the teacher’s name, the exact amount enclosed and
what the payment is for.
NON SCHOOL RELATED CRIME
When a student is accused of a non-school related
criminal act, Huntington Catholic shall follow diocesan policy. (Diocesan
Policy P4550
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4550)-Students
Student
Accused of a Non-School Related Criminal Act
A student
accused of a non-school related criminal act which does not subject the student
to suspension or expulsion pursuant to Policy 4520 is presumed innocent and no
academic or disciplinary penalties will necessarily be imposed regarding that
alleged criminal act unless the student is proven guilty or admits guilt
through the civil law process.
Some
circumstances, such as a need to protect the safety and/or the privacy of the
student or others, may necessitate such student’s removal from the normal
academic setting pending the outcome of the civil law process. In this case, the wishes of the student
and/or custodial parents/legal guardians will be considered, but the final
decision regarding removal is the principal’s, after consultation with the
pastor and/or Superintendent of Schools.
Should such a removal be deemed necessary, a program of home study will
be developed and implemented for the student.
See P4520 –
Grounds for Suspension or Expulsion of Students
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
PERSONAL DATA
Please inform the appropriate office immediately of
any change in health problems, address and/or telephone (residence and/or
business), emergency contact person and/or marital status.
If your child is being transferred either during the
school year or the summer months, please notify the office far enough in
advance so that records may be forwarded to the new school promptly. Parents
must sign a release of record for any records to be transferred.
Please note - records may not be transferred if all
financial obligations to the school have not been met. Only those records for
the time period in question (non payment of tuition or fees) will be withheld.
27
PLAYGROUND SAFETY
The following items are not allowed on school
premises: radios, boom boxes, walkmans, frisbees, hard balls, super balls,
racket balls, skate boards, in-line skates or water guns. Students are strictly forbidden to engage in
any game or sport which involves tackling or rough physical contact. The throwing of snow, snowballs, ice, stones
or other harmful objects is not allowed on school premises before, during or
after regular school hours.
STUDENT INSURANCE
A portion of each student’s course fees is for
student/athlete insurance coverage.
Students have coverage for injuries and accidents that happen during the
school day at Huntington Catholic or during school-
sponsored activities.
Eligible covered expenses will be paid which are in excess of other
valid and
collectible insurance. Claims should be submitted to the parent’s
insurance first. If an injury occurs,
seek medical care through your usual providers.
Then contact the secretary, who will obtain information required to
complete the school’s portion of the claim form. The claim form will be sent to the parents,
who must complete their portion. Then
the parents mail the completed form along with an Explanation of Benefits and
corresponding itemized bills to the plan administrator’s address shown on the
form. All correspondence after this
point should be between the plan administrator and the parents. Completed claim forms must be submitted
within 90 days of the date of the injury.
STUDENT LOCKER/DESK INSPECTION
All students who enroll in a diocesan school must
consent to the search of their person and personal belongings, lockers, desks,
etc. for any item and reason consistent with diocesan policy. (Diocesan
Policy 4590
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4590)-Students
Student Locker and Vehicle Searches
All students who
enroll in a diocesan school must consent to the search of their person and
personal belongings, lockers, school desks, vehicles, etc., at any time and for
any reason consistent with this policy.
I. Persons and Personal Belongings
The school reserves the right to examine the contents of the
student’s pockets, purses, back packs, book bags, or other personal belongings
when an administrator has reason to suspect they may contain inappropriate or
illegal materials or items. This right
of inspection is effective at all times while the student is on school premises
or at a school-sponsored event.
II. Student Lockers
All lockers, school desks, cloak rooms, etc., (“lockers”) made
available for student use on the
school premises, including but not limited to, lockers located in
the hallways, physical education and athletic dressing rooms, industrial
education classrooms, and art classrooms, are the property of the school. These lockers are made available for student
use in storing personal effects such as
clothing, coats, etc., school supplies, and personal items
necessary for use at school, but the lockers are not to be used to store items
which cause or could cause an injury, an interference with school purposes or
an education function, or which are inappropriate or forbidden by federal or
state law or diocesan or school policy or rules. The student’s use of the locker does not
diminish the school’s ownership or control of the locker. A student may not expect to have privacy in a
locker or its contents.
The school retains the right to inspect the locker and it’s
content to ensure that the locker is being used solely in accordance with its
intended purposes.
Each school shall develop rules and procedures for the inspection
and maintenance of school lockers.
III. Vehicles
Parking facilities may be made available to students upon approval
of the school administrators. The
school, however, reserves the right to establish rules for the use of such
parking facilities including the right to examine the contents of any vehicle
while parked on school premises when an administrator has reason to suspect
that the contents of such vehicle may include items or elements which are in
violation of school or diocesan policy, inappropriate, illegal to possess, have
been stolen or lost, or present a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of
students or staff.
28
IV. Searches
will be conducted by the administrator or administrator’s adult designee in the
presence of a witness.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 30, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
SEXUAL/RACIAL HARASSMENT POLICY (HCP010)
In compliance with Diocesan Policy P4580, it is the
policy of Huntington Catholic School to maintain a learning environment that is
free from sexual/racial harassment. It
shall be a violation of this policy for any student to harass another student
through conduct or communication of a sexual/racial nature. Please contact the principal for the diocesan
procedure for reporting sexual/racial harassment.
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4580)- Students
Anti-Harassment Prohibition
It is the policy
of the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend to maintain a
learning and working environment that is free from harassment based on sex,
race, national origin, color, age, disability, or any other impermissible
factor that is prohibited by law and/or the teachings of the Catholic Church.
It shall be a
violation of this policy for any employee of the Catholic schools to harass a
student through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined in
Section I of the Procedure to this policy or on
any other
impermissible grounds described in Section II of the Procedure to this policy. It shall also be a violation of this policy
for any student to harass another student or employee, through conduct or
communication of a sexual nature as defined in Section I of the Procedure and
on any other impermissible grounds as described in Section II of this
Procedure. (For harassment against
employees, see Policy and Procedure 3630).
The use of the term “employee” in this policy and procedure also
includes non-employees and volunteers who work subject to the control of school
authorities.
See Procedure to
P4580
See P3630-Legal
Issues: Anti-Harassment Prohibition
(Personnel)
See forms to
report Harassment in School Administrative Handbook
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Huntington Catholic shall assist students
experiencing substance abuse problems in accordance with Diocesan Policy
P4570.
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P4570)
Students:
Substance Abuse
The Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend recognizes that substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) is a
disease and not a manifestation of character weakness. Persons afflicted with this disease are
entitled to the same compassion and treatment as anyone afflicted with any
other disease.
If a principal
becomes aware of facts or circumstances which gives the principal reason to
believe that a student is experiencing a substance abuse problem, the principal
and/or the school’s counselor shall meet with the student and arrange a
conference with the student’s parent (s)/legal guardian (s) at which time the
underlying problem and treatment options will be explored, as appropriate. The principal reserves the right to require
that a student see a substance abuse counselor for an evaluation at the
parent/guardian(‘s) expense, and to require that recommendations for treatment
be implemented and followed by the student
as a condition
for the student’s continued enrollment in the school. Should the student or the student’s
parent(s)/legal guardian(s) refuse to cooperate, the principal may require the
student to withdraw from school.
29
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the principal reserves the right to discipline a student, up to
and including
expulsion, for
any violation of the school’s policies or rules and regulations of student
behavior, regardless of whether the violation was involved or related to a
substance abuse problem.
Recommended: February 19, 2003 Diocesan
School Board
Ratified: June 29, 2003 Diocesan
Bishop
ATHLETICS/EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
It is the philosophy of Huntington Catholic School to
provide extra-curricular activities for as many of its
students as it can. The sport will be offered if
there is enough students to field a team and coaches for the sport. In the field of athletics, we will strive to
provide the following experiences:
1.
Volleyball
2.
Basketball
3.
Intramurals
4.
Cheerleading
5.
Cross country
Our Middle School students are permitted by the
Huntington County School Corporation to participate in its football, soccer,
track, swimming and wrestling programs. Information can be given on this unique
arrangement by the HCS Athletic Director.
All policies regarding Huntington Catholic School are
written and approved by the School board of HCS. Parents must attend the
meeting during which those rules are discussed if they have children who are
interested in our teams that compete in the county or with Ft. Wayne
teams. (See Athletic Handbook Section)
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
iPods, electronic game systems, and other electronic
equipment are discouraged at school. If
they are brought to school, they must be kept in the child’s locker. The school will not be responsible for these
items. Electronic equipment will be
confiscated by teacher or principal if brought into the classroom.
COMMUNICATION
CALENDAR
The school calendar for the year is
determined by the Huntington County Community School Corporation and the
Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend. We are required to have 180 student contact
days.
SCHOOL CANCELLATION/DELAY
Huntington Catholic School follows the Huntington
County Community School Corporation in delaying school or in canceling school
due to inclement weather. Please watch and/or listen to the appropriate
television or radio stations for that news.
FAMILY ENVELOPE:
A family envelope containing pertinent information is
sent home at least twice every month. It is sent home with the oldest child in
each family. Parents are requested to sign the carrier envelope and to return
it as promptly as possible.
PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT-CONFERENCES
Formal parent-teacher-student conferences are held
twice (2) each year. The first conference will be held in the early fall and
the second one in the spring. These are mandatory conferences. The
student shall be present at each conference.
From time-to-time, needs arise to schedule other
parent/teacher conferences. These must be
arranged by the parents and/or teacher. The principal
will be notified of all such conferences and may elect to attend such
conferences.
SCHOOL PICTURES
School pictures are taken of all students in the fall.
Purchase of pictures is optional.
30
REACHING TEACHERS BY PHONE:
Primary
Building Teachers:
·
Can be reached
by phone between 7:30 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. or between 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
·
If for some reason
you need to contact the teacher during school hours, then you
need to contact the building
secretary at ext. 100.
·
If contact with
the secretary was not possible, please leave a message on the
secretary’s voice mail of the need
for communication with the teacher.
Middle Building Teachers:
·
Can be reached
by phone between 7:30 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. or between 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
·
If for some
reason you need to contact the teacher during school hours, then you need to
contact the building secretary at
ext. 200.
·
If contact with
the secretary was not possible, please leave a message on the secretary’s
voice mail of the need for
communication with the teacher.
STUDENTS’ USE OF THE TELEPHONE
The telephones in the school offices and in the
classrooms are for business use. A student is not allowed to use the phone
unless there is good reason.
YEARBOOK
Students may purchase a yearbook in the spring.
BOOSTER CLUB
The Booster Club membership is committed to the overall
success of HCS Athletics. We believe the
spiritual, physical and educational development of our student athletes will
help them nurture a closer relationship with God, their parents and teachers,
fellow students and themselves. Booster
Club meets once a month in the Middle Building.
All parents of the student athletes are encouraged to attend the
meetings.
ATHLETIC GOLD/BLACK/WHITE CLUB
Gold Club-A donation of $100.00 or more to the
Booster Club will receive 20 Complimentary Family Admissions (immediate family
only) to Athletic games/events.
Black Club-A donation of $50.00 or more will receive
12 Complimentary Family Admissions (immediate family only) to Athletic
games/events.
White Club-A donation of $25.00 or more will receive
5 Complimentary Family Admissions (immediate family only) to Athletic
games/events.
HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (HASA)
All families of HCS are considered members of our
HASA. The family dues are $10.00 for the
year and each family is asked to pay these dues by the end of September.
HASA sponsors the Back to School Night, treats for
First Communicants & Confirmands, Christmas breakfast for faculty/staff,
dinner for teachers during conferences, coordinate refreshments after the
Christmas and spring programs, family fun night, etc.
POLICY
REVIEW (HCP007)
All Huntington
Catholic School policies will be reviewed and updated annually.
PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION POLICY (HCP014)
School Board
meetings are open to the public.
Expression of opinion on school board matters is
encouraged. The school board does not, however, act as a
grievance committee to settle an individual’s concerns with the administration
of the school. See Diocesan Policy P2310
31
SCHOOL BOARD
The HCS School Board operates in an advisory capacity to
the principal and it is also an advocate of the school in the community at-large. Meetings are held at either
building and are open meetings unless designated
as being Executive. The right of non-members to
address the Board shall be limited to those whose petition has been approved
for the agenda, in advance of the meeting.
New members are appointed in the month of May.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Students in Grades 5-8 maintaining a C average or
higher may run for Student Council each May.
SC consists of 2 representatives per grade (one boy
and one girl) and each class will vote for their class representative. Officers are appointed. The Student Council's functions include to assist those less
fortunate in our community, to promote school spirit, to sponsor a variety of
activities for the student body and act as a liaison between students and
administration.
CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY (HCP012)
The principal shall not consult with the school board
or school board members in the decision making process on individual student
disciplinary issues or on issues dealing with personnel.
Diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (P1140) School Administration
Confidentiality
To maintain
standards imposed by Church teaching and consistent with civil law, the Diocese
prohibits dissemination of protected or confidential information except as
authorized by canon or civil law.
I. Students
Civil law restricts the release of student identifying
information. (FERPA [20 U.S.C.$1232g]
A. “Need to Know”
Individuals
Certain individuals may be considered to have a legitimate educational
interest in a student or a student’s behavior sufficient to receive access to
pertinent student educational record information:
1. Elementary school
– Pastor, principal, student’s teacher(s)
and counselor(s), discipline committee composed of appropriate
school staff members;
2. High
school – Principal, chaplain, administrative team, discipline committee
composed of appropriate school staff members, and the student’s teacher(s) and
counselor(s).
3 Principals
shall not consult with the school board or school board members in the
decision-making
process on individual student discipline issues.
Authorized
individuals to whom confidential information is legitimately disclosed shall
not redisclosure the information to others except as provided by law, i.e. ,
with parent and/or student consent or as required in response to legal process
after notice of intended disclosure is provided to the student and/or the
student’s parents.
B. Violations
The unauthorized disclosure or redisclosure of information about a
student, or engaging in plain gossip or rumormongering, is not morally
acceptable and potentially unlawful since it
could have tendency to tarnish or impugn the good name of the
student. Such unnecessary disclosure
and/or gossip is in violation of Church teaching and is, therefore, forbidden.
In any given case, there may be other sanctions or liabilities
under federal or state law or common law,
that could apply to anyone who improperly discloses such
information, regardless of how they gained
access to the information in the first place.
II. Teacher and/or
Staff Personnel Issues
It is diocesan expectation that issues about personnel issues
concerning teachers and/or other staff members shall remain confidential.
32
A. “Need to Know”
Individuals
Certain individuals may be considered to have a legitimate
professional interest in a staff
person’s behavior sufficient to receive access to pertinent
personnel issues for evaluation purposes:
1. Elementary school
– Pastor, principal, assistant principal
2. High
school – Principal, chaplain, administrative team, department head
Principals shall not consult with the school board or
school board members in their decision-making process or on individual teacher
and/or staff personnel issues or evaluations
B. Violations
The unnecessary disclosure or redisclosure of information about a staff
member, or engaging in plain gossip or rumormongering, is not morally
acceptable and potentially unlawful since it could have the tendency to tarnish
or impugn the good name of the individual.
Such unnecessary disclosure, redisclosure, and/or gossip is in violation
of Church teachings and is, therefore, forbidden.
Recommended: March 1, 20000 Diocesan School Board
Ratified: March 28, 2000 Diocesan
Bishop
WITHDRAWAL
POLICY (HCP011)
If it necessary
to withdraw your student from Huntington Catholic, parents are to notify the
school office regarding reason and effective date.
AGREEMENT SIGNED BY PARENTS AND STUDENTS
For everyone’s protection, parents and students are
requested to sign a statement indicating that they have
read and agree to be governed by this handbook. The
attached form is to be signed and returned to school by the indicated date.
RIGHT TO AMEND THE HANDBOOK
The administration retains the right to amend the
handbook for just cause. Parents will be notified as soon as possible if
changes are made.
33
HUNTINGTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL
SECTION II
ATHLETIC
2009-10
ATHLETIC HANDBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section II
PHILOSOPHY..... 1
PARTICIPATION..... 1
DROPPING
OR TRANSFERRING SPORTS..... 1
EQUIPMENT...... 1
MISSING
PRACTICE 1
TRAVEL...... 1
TRANSPORTATION...... 1
CONFLICTS
IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES...... 2
ATTENDANCE...... 2
SUPERVISION..... 2
GROOMING
AND DRESS CODE POLICY..... 2
VACATIONS
POLICY..... 3
SQUAD
SELECTION..... 3
CUTTING
POLICIES..... 3
FUN
NIGHTS OR SPECIAL EVENTS..... 3
AWARDS
BANQUETS..... 3
REPORTING
INJURY..... 4
ILLNESS...... 4
LOCKER
ROOM REGULATIONS...... 4
POSTPONING/CANCELING
CONTESTS..... 4
UNDUE
INFLUENCE FOR PARTICIPATION..... 4
CONDUCT
OF PARENT(S) and SPECTATOR(S)..... 5
PARENTAL
CONCERNS POLICY..... 5
REQUIREMENTS
FOR PARTICIPATION...... 5
REQUIREMENTS
FOR PARTICIPATION CONT. ..... 6
INTRAMURAL
POLICIES 7
INTRAMURAL
POLCIIES CONT….. 8
HCS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT POLICIES-5th through
8th-4th if needed
A. PHILOSOPHY
The
philosophy of the athletic program is to create a developmental as well as a
competitive Athletic Program that instills Christian values, promotes
sportsmanship, teamwork, and discipline, thereby, promoting the general health
and well being of its students, while maintaining academic excellence. The athletic programs are devoted to
developing fundamental skills, concentrating on team concepts, and physical
conditioning.
B. PARTICIPATION
Before
an athlete may participate in more than one sport per season, the athlete must
first have approval of the involved coaches, the Athletic Director and the
Principal.
C. DROPPING
OR TRANSFERRING SPORTS:
“Quitting”
is an intolerable habit to acquire. A
student who quits may lose the privilege of participating in athletics. On occasion, however, an athlete may find it
necessary to drop a sport for a good reason.
If this is the case, the following procedure must be followed:
1. Consult with your immediate coach
2. Report your situation to the Athletic
Director
3. Check in all equipment issued to you
D. EQUIPMENT
School
equipment checked out by the student/athlete is his/her responsibility. He/she is expected to keep it CLEAN and in
GOOD CONDITION. Loss or damage of
equipment is the athlete’s financial responsibility. An athlete will not receive his/her report
card until the uniform is returned after each season or if it is lost or
damaged it must be paid for before the report card will be received.
E. MISSING
PRACTICE & GAMES
If
possible, an athlete should consult the coach BEFORE missing practice. If not possible, a written note from the
parent(s) must be given to the coach prior to the athlete being allowed to
participate. If not, the athlete
receives a 1 game suspension.
F. TRAVEL
All
athletes MUST TRAVEL TO AND FROM OUT OF TOWN ATHLETIC CONTESTS in the
transportation provided by the athletic department unless previous written
arrangements are made by the parents for exceptional situations.
G. TRANSPORTATION
When
adults are needed to transport athletes to athletic events, the following must
be verified by the driver:
1. The driver must be 21 years of age or older
2. The driver must have a valid,
non-probationary driver’s
license and no physical disability that may
impair the
ability to drive safely.
3. The vehicle must have a valid registration
4. The vehicle must be insured for minimum
limits of
100,000 per person/$300,00 per occurrence
5. Each athlete must be seat belted
6. A signed VOLUNTEER DRIVER information sheet
must be
submitted to the Athletic Director
1
H. CONFLICTS
IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
An
individual student who attempts to participate in several extra-curricular
activities will undoubtedly be in a position of a conflict of obligations. The athletic department recognizes that each
student should have the opportunity for a broad range of experiences in the
area of extra-curricular activities and to this end will attempt to schedule
events in a manner to minimize conflicts.
Students have a responsibility to do everything they can to avoid
continuous conflicts. This would include
being cautious about belonging to too many activities where conflicts are bound
to happen. It also means notifying the
faculty sponsors/coaches involved immediately when a conflict does arise. When
a conflict arises the sponsors/coaches will work out a solution so the student
does not feel caught in the middle. If a
solution cannot be found the Principal will make the decision based on the
following:
1. The relative importance of each event
2. The importance of each event to the student
3. The relative contribution the student may
make
4. How long each event has been scheduled?
5. Talk with parents
Once
the decision has been made and the student has followed the decision, HE/SHE
WILL NOT BE PENALIZED IN ANY WAY BE EITHER FACULTY SPONSOR OR COACH. If it becomes obvious that a student cannot
fulfill the obligation of a school activity, he/she should withdraw from that
activity.
I. ATTENDANCE
Students
who miss part of the school day due to illness must be in attendance FOR ALL
PERIODS AFTER LUNCH in order to play in a contest or practice on that
date. If the practice or game is on a
Saturday, it will be up to the parents’ discretion as to whether a student is
able to participate. Students missing
school for reasons other than illness must have an excused absence in order to
participate. Final authority for infractions
of this rule will rest with the Athletic Director.
J. SUPERVISION
Athletes must be supervised at all times. Unless the game or practice
is scheduled for right after school, athletes must leave the building between dismissal
and practice time unless prior arrangements have been made
with a teacher who is willing to supervise.
K. GROOMING
AND DRESS CODE POLICY
A
member of an athletic team is expected to be well groomed. Appearance, expression and actions always
influence people’s opinions of athletes, the team, the coach, the parents, the
school and the Athletic Director. Once
you have volunteered to be a member of the squad, you have made a choice to
uphold certain standards expected of athletes in this community. The following
grooming and dress code rules will be adhered to by team members:
2
1. Hairstyles are to be maintained in a neat and
clean manner so
as to present a positive image for both the
team and the
school.
2. An athlete shall dress presentably at all times,
on trips, or
at assemblies.
3. Only uniforms issued or sold by the athletic
department will be
worn for contests.
4.
No jewelry will be worn during an athletic contest
5.
Athletes will not be permitted to participate until deviations
of the above rules are satisfactorily corrected.
L. VACATION
POLICY
In the event of an absence due to an approved vacation, an
athlete must:
1.
Be accompanied by parents while on vacation
2.
Contact the coach PRIOR to the vacation
3. Be willing to assume the consequences to
their status on that squad as a starter, 2nd string, etc.
M. SQUAD
SELECTION
In
accordance with our philosophy of athletics and our desire to see as many
students as possible participate in the athletic program while at Huntington
Catholic School, we encourage coaches to keep as many students/athletes as they
can without unbalancing the integrity of their sport. Time, space, facilities, equipment, uniforms,
and other factors will place limitations on the most effective squad size for
basketball and cheerleading. The
Athletic Director shall establish the appropriate squad size for basketball and
cheerleading.
N. CUTTING
POLICIES
Choosing the members of the basketball team is the sole
responsibility of the coaches of
that squad. Choosing the
members
of the cheerleading team is the responsibility of outside judges, the coach and
the Athletic Director. The Athletic
Director will make the final decision.
Cuts in all other sports will be discouraged. Prior to trying out, the coach shall provide
the following information to all candidates for the team.
1.
Extent of try-out period
2.
Criteria used to select the team
3.
Number to be selected
4.
Practice commitment, if they make the team
5.
Game commitments
When a squad cut becomes a
necessity, the process will include two
important elements. Each candidate shall have:
1.
Competed in a minimum of four (4) practices
2.
Performed in a least one (1) intra-squad game
O. FUN
NIGHTS OR SPECIAL EVENTS
In
order for an athlete to participate in a fun night away from the school
property or if a field trip is planned for an athletic event, the athletic
director must have a permission slip on file in order for the athlete to participate.
P. AWARDS BANQUETS
After
each sporting season an Awards Banquet will be held by the Booster Club to
recognize the athletes.
3
Q. REPORTING INJURY
All
injuries that occur while participating in athletics must be reported to the
coach. If the injury requires medical
attention by a doctor or treatment center, it will be necessary to have an
ACCIDENT REPORT FORM completed. The coach will inform the Athletic Director of
the incident, who in turn will complete the form. Once a physician treats the athlete, the
athlete MUST OBTAIN THE DOCTORS PERMISSION TO RETURN TO THE ACTIVITY.
R. ILLNESS
Athletes
who are physically unable to practice for FIVE(5) CONSECUTIVE DAYS due to
illness or injury are to present to the Athletic Director a statement from a
PHYSICIAN STATING THEY ARE AGAIN PHYSICALLY FIT TO PARTICIPATE IN INTER-SCHOOL
ATHLETICS. The physician and the parent(s) must sign this statement.
S. LOCKER
ROOM REGULATIONS
Rough
housing and throwing towels or other objects is not allowed in the locker
room. Hazing of other players is not
allowed. Any thing that is considered
horseplay is not allowed. If any of the
above would happen, the coach and Athletic Director will decide the punishment
after informing the parents. No one
except coaches, players and the Athletic Director are allowed in the locker
room. NO GLASS CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED IN
THE LOCKER ROOMS. All spiked and cleated
shoes must be put on and taken off outside the locker room and school. No metal or hard plastic spikes are ever
allowed in any other part of the school building.
T. POSTPONING/CANCELING
CONTESTS
If
a contest must be postponed or cancelled due to weather or any other factor not
conducive to good game conditions, the following factors will be considered:
Playing conditions of the field, safe travel for the team and parents, safe
travel for the opponents, safe travel for the officials, damage to equipment,
safety to the spectators in or on the school grounds, gym or field.
After considering factors, it will then be up the Athletic
Director
and/or Principal to play the game or to postpone/cancel the game. IN THE CASE OF POSTPONEMENT/CANCELLATION,
STUDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY.
STUDENTS WILL CALL PARENTS IMMEDIATELY.
If
school is cancelled for any reason, the scheduled athletic practice, game,
contest, or event will automatically be cancelled. The Athletic Director will reschedule
the game, contest, or event if possible.
U. UNDUE
INFLUENCE FOR PARTICIPATION
1. It shall be the philosophy of the HCS Athletic
department that athletes shall enjoy as many sports seasons as the student athlete
and their parents wish them to participate in without influence from any coach
to specialize in one sport. All coaches
should encourage participation in other sports.
2. Although athletes may choose the sport they
wish to enjoy,
once
the season has started, NO ONE SHALL CHANGE SPORTS
WITHOUT
THE CONSENT OF EACH COACH INVOLVED.
a. Athletes
cut from one sport, may however, try out
for another sport providing they were not cut from the first sport for disciplinary reasons.
b. No athlete who is dropped from one squad for
disciplinary
reasons or who “quits”(See C. DROPPING OR TRANSFERRING SPORTS) shall be
eligible to compete in another sport for that particular season.
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V. CONDUCT OF PARENT(S) and SPECTATOR(S)
If
a parent or spectator is unruly and disrespectful to anyone, especially a
coach, an official, another parent, a student athlete, a spectator, a volunteer
or the Athletic Director, they will be asked to leave. They will be asked to leave 3 times. If they refuse to leave, the Athletic
Director may call the police. Yelling and screaming at the above will not be
tolerated. If a parent is asked to
leave, the Athletic Department reserves the right to ban them from any and all
HCS athletic events. At the parent(s) or
spectator(s) request a meeting may be set up to discuss the issue. The following factors will be considered;
offensive language (swearing), disrespectful comments, threats, yelling,
screaming, physical contact and any other inappropriate behavior. PARENTS MUST BE THE CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE FOR
OUR STUDENT/ATHLETES, OUR SCHOOL, and OUR COMMUNITY.
W. PARENTAL
CONCERNS POLICY
If a parent has a concern about HCS ATHLETICS (i.e. squad
selection,
playing time, other parents, other athletes, etc.) then questions should be
directed to the coach of that team. If
the issue can not be satisfactorily resolved with the coach, then the parents
may address questions to the Athletic Director.
The final step, if the issue is still unresolved, is to take the concern
to the Principal. The Principal, with
teacher consultation, with the pastors will make the final decision on said
matter. Do not skip steps.
X. REQUIREMENTS
FOR PARTICIPATION
1.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
A
yearly physical examination is required.
The physical form must be completed by the physician and submitted to
the Athletic Director PRIOR to participation. The physical covers all sports for the entire
school year provided the examination occurred after JUNE 15. The form will be kept on file in the athletic
office. Physicals are offered at HCS for a nominal charge each August.
2. EMERGENCY
MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION
Each
athlete’s parents shall complete an Emergency Medical Authorization form giving
permission for treatment by a physician or hospital when the parent(s) are not
available. Each sports season the coach will keep the form in the medical kit
for availability for all practices and contests.
3. INSURANCE
The school district does not carry primary
insurance
coverage
for student athletic injuries. The
insurance carried by the school is strictly secondary to the insurance carried
by the parents. Parents will need to
indicate on the athletic physical form, the name of the insurance company under
which the athlete is covered.
4. SCHOLASTIC ELIGIBILITY
In
order to participate on a HCS school athletic team, each athlete must have
satisfied all the scholastic eligibility requirements PRIOR to participation.
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INELIGIBLE:
The
student is ineligible to participate in athletics/extra-curricular activities
if one of the following applies:
1. Earning less than a “C” average
2. Earns at least two “F’s” or “U’s” or combination
of
two Athletic Director will obtain the
athlete’s
grades from the teachers. The Athletic Director
will inform the coaches of any struggling
athlete.
Any student not meeting grade eligibility will
be
suspended from the
sport. The athlete’s
eligibility will be reevaluated at the end of
each
grading period.
5. RISK OF PARTICIPATION
All athletes and parents must realize the
risk of serious injury that may be a result of
athletic participation. HCS will use the following
safeguards to make every effort to eliminate injury.
A. Conduct
a mandatory parent/athlete meeting at the start of the season to fully explain
the athletic policies and to advise caution and warn parents/athletes of the
potential for injury.
B. Maintain a continuing education program for coaches to learn the
most up-to-date techniques and skills to be taught in their sport.
C. Instruct all athletes about the dangers of
participation in the
particular sport.
6. FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND EQUIPMENT
Uniforms-School uniforms are only to be worn for
contests or activities approved by the athletic department. Uniforms provided by the school for student
use are not to be worn out in public unless it is for a reason approved by the
school. In several sports, athletes may
be required to purchase a portion of the uniform(s), which will become their
property.
Equipment - All athletes are responsible for the proper care and
security of equipment issued to them.
School
furnished
equipment is to be used only for contests and practices approved by the
athletic department
FINES- All equipment and
uniforms not returned in good condition at the end of the season will be
subject to financial penalty. All
uniforms and financial penalties will need to be returned at the end of each
season in order to receive our report card.
7. CONDUCT OF ATHLETES
A
firm and fair policy of enforcement is necessary to uphold the regulations and
standards of the athletic department.
School administrators, athletic director, and coaching staff feel
strongly that a high standard of conduct and citizenship are essential in
maintaining a sound, competitive program for the athletics. The welfare of the student is our major
consideration and transcends any other consideration. An athlete must conduct himself/herself in a
sportsmanship like manner at all times as they are not only representing
themselves, but also their teammates, coach, parents,
athletic director and the school.
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The following infraction will
result in a 1 game suspension:
·
Receiving
a disciplinary referral for a behavioral
violation from the 1st practice to
the end of the season
·
Third
detention for missing homework
·
Each
additional detention for missing homework
·
Receiving
three disciplinary referrals for behavioral violations during an athletic
season will result in immediate dismissal from the team.
The responsibility for enforcing the above
will rest with the coach, Athletic Director and/or Principal.
HUNTINGTON CATHOLIC INTRAMURAL POLICIES
Students
in grades PK-6 of Huntington Catholic School have a unique opportunity to
participate in a variety of intramural programs. These polices are established to help the
programs run smoothly.
A. PHILOSOPHY
The
philosophy of the intramural program is to create a development athletic
program that instills Christian values and promotes
sportsmanship, teamwork, and discipline, there by promoting the
general health and well being of
participating students. The intramural
program is devoted to developing fundamental skills, concentrating on team
concept and physical conditioning.
B. PARTICIPATION
Students
of Huntington Catholic School are encouraged to participate in the Intramural
Program. All students will participate
equally in practices and games to the degree that it is possible.
C. COACHES
Volunteer
coaches are the backbone of our Intramural Program. Huntington Catholic’s Athletic Director will
strive to obtain competent coaches for all teams. Coaches will promote the general health and
well being of participants while striving to teach fundamentals and maintaining
a fun learning environment. Coaches (or
designated adult substitute coaches) will be present at all practices and games
and are required to remain until all children are picked up.
D. ATHLETES
The
number one rule is to have FUN! Each
athlete has the responsibility to follow the directions of his or her coach in
order to learn about the sport and to ensure safety. Unruly or irresponsible behavior will not be
tolerated.
E. PARENTS
Parents
are to remember that this is a developmental program. Please keep the emphasis on the children
learning and having fun. Please be
prompt picking up your child after practice and games. If you child will miss a practice or game,
please notify the coach. Yelling and
screaming at student athletes, coaches, referees, or other volunteers will not
be tolerated.