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General Information

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Schedule
Students should not be in the schoolyard prior to 8:10a.m. Staff supervision of the schoolyard begins at this time. The first bell rings at 8:30 a.m. at which time students enter the building (Students should not be in the building prior to this time without specific reason or permission). Classes begin at 8:35 a.m. Any student arriving after this time must report first to the secretary to receive a late slip.
Dismissal begins at 2:10 in all grades. Students, who are walking or being picked up by car, are dismissed to the rectory side of the building. All students being dismissed from the second floor must use the staircase on the rectory side of the building. Following the dismissal of walkers, bus students are dismissed from the front entrance of the building. Dismissal on half days is at 12:30 p.m.

Staff members supervise both the arrival of buses in the morning and the departure of buses in the afternoon. Only students assigned to buses are expected to ride these buses. In the event of an emergency, a request may be submitted in writing to the principal.

Attendance
Students must be in their respective classrooms at 8:30 a.m. for opening exercises. Late arrivals must report directly to the office. A note or statement explaining the reason for tardiness is expected. Excessive tardiness may result in disciplinary action. Acceptable reasons for an excused absence are only two: the sickness of the child or a death in the immediate family. Frequent and prolonged absences impede the student's academic progress. In the event of an absence, parents are asked to do the following.
  • Call the school office at 442-1720 on the day of the absence and report the reason for the absence. Calls should be made between 8:10a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
  • When the office has not been notified by phone of an absence, upon the return of the student, the parent/guardian must send a written note stating the date(s) of and reasons for the absence.
  • In order to have a student excused from physical education classes, a note must be submitted by the parent or guardian. In the event of an accident or operation, written notification must be received by the teacher and nurse in order to have the child excused from these classes.
  • Children who are absent from school due to contagious diseases must have written permission from the family physician before being readmitted to school.
  • All appointments with doctors and dentists should be made during after school hours. Late arrivals and early dismissals disrupt the learning process.
In the event that a child becomes ill during the school day, parents/guardians will be contacted before the child is released. A parent or designated representative must call for the child. An emergency number must be on file in the office. Please notify the school office of any changes in these telephone numbers.

If it should become necessary to remove your child from school earlier than the usual dismissal time, a written request signed by the parent/guardian must be submitted to the school office by the morning of the early dismissal.

Bus Students
To provide a safe environment for students riding our buses, it is necessary to follow certain rules of safety. The students shall:
  • Respect and obey the bus driver.
  • Remain in his/her seat while the bus is being loaded and in motion.
  • Keep entire body inside the bus.
  • Ride only his/her assigned bus.
  • Not eat on the bus.
Students who do not follow the rules of riding the bus are subject to disciplinary action. The action taken will be at the discretion of the principal. Non-compliance with these rules could jeopardize your child's privilege to ride the bus.

All kindergarten students are eligible to be bused within the town of New
London. State law mandates that a child in grades 1 through 8 must live at least one mile from school in order to receive busing.

It is imperative that students ride the bus to which they have been assigned. Students may not ride other buses.

Changing of Classes
When entering or when moving from one classroom to another it is important that students move quietly and line up accordingly. This will allow optimum learning conditions in all classrooms during movement through the building. Congregating in the lavatories before, during or after school is never acceptable.

Class Dues
In grades 6 through 8 students pay class dues in order to help with the expense of trips and other expenses which might occur during the year. It is suggested that these be paid regularly throughout the school year and that they come from the student's own funds. This is an excellent means of teaching and learning financial responsibility.
Communications and Conferences
Communication among the members of our school community is very important. Periodically, written communications will be sent home with your children. Please expect these notices to be delivered by your children. Each classroom teacher also communicates through a monthly newsletter. Please look for these at the beginning of each month.

Conferencing, both in person and by phone, is also Important to the success of your children here at St. Joseph. Formal parent-teacher conferences take place each November, however conferencing need not be confined to this time. If you wish to make an appointment with a particular teacher, please notify that teacher either in writing or through a phone call to the school office. The teacher will be certain to contact you for an appointment time.

Any classroom difficulties should first be discussed with the teacher. Only after this is done should a parent request an appointment to discuss these with the principal.
Health Policies
Complete physical examinations are required for all students prior to kindergarten and prior to the seventh grade year. It is also required that students registering in school from another state receive a complete physical prior to enrollment. Students cannot be admitted to school without compliance to these regulations.

The New London Board of Health policy regarding the administration of medication during school hours is as follows. Because the town provides the nursing services to our school, we abide by this health policy. Medication should be given, if possible, before school. Law requires a PHYSICIAN'S WRITTEN ORDER AND A PARENT'S AUTHORIZATION for the school nurse to administer medicinal preparations. In her absence, the principal or teacher may do this. Medication must be clearly marked with the following information:
  • Student's name
  • Direction for administration
  • Name of medication
  • Doctor ordering medication
Students may not carry medication of any kind.

Homework
Homework is given for the purpose of reinforcing concepts already introduced. It is given in grades one through eight on an age-appropriate basis.

Students in grades 4 through 8 are expected to keep an assignment notebook for all homework assignments. This assignment book is purchased through the school and will be checked on a regular basis by the classroom and/or subject teacher. This assignment book also provides space for written communication between teacher and parent and vice versa. It is important that as the teacher checks this book regularly so also should the parent check it.
Lunch/Recess Period
All children must remain at school during the lunch period. Milk may be purchased through the school and payment is made on an annual basis. Glass containers and sodas are not allowed for snack or lunchtime drinks.

Recess is supervised by the school staff and occasionally by volunteers.

Students are expected to act respectfully toward each other and toward whomever is supervising the playground. In the event that the personal or physical safety of anyone on the playground is jeopardized by another, the student will be removed from the playground and will face disciplinary action.
Money and Personal Items
All money sent to school shall be in a sealed envelope with the student's name, grade, and an explanation of the payment on the outside of the envelope.

The money shall be delivered to the teacher or to the secretary at the beginning of the school day. It is not advisable for students to keep large sums of money with them. Money should never be left In mat pockets, in desks or closets.

Students may not bring personal radios, recorders or CD players to school. Toys, unless planned into the academic day, do not have a place in the classroom.

The school cannot assume responsibility for missing items.

Notices
Many important notices will be sent home during the school year. Please expect these to be delivered by your children. If you do not see these notices please ask for them. Often they hide at the bottom of backpacks and book bags.


Telephone Use
Students will not be permitted to call home for forgotten items such as
lunches, books, or sneakers. Forgotten items, which are brought to school, should be left with the secretary, so as not to interrupt classes.

Calls made to the school to leave messages for students should be
infrequent, made only in cases of emergency. Arrangements for after school visits or transportation should be made prior to arrival at school.
Vacations
Parents are urged to refrain from taking children on vacations when school is in session. This practice has become increasingly disruptive to the teaching/learning process. Teachers will not be responsible for preparing assignments prior to the time children will be absent for family vacations, scheduled during regular school days. Work will be provided upon the student's return. The completion of this work will be expected in a timely manner.


Visitors
Any visitors to the school, parents or others, must enter through the front door and report first to the school office. No one may go directly to any classroom. This is a Diocesan Policy for the safety of all Involved.


Walkers and Car "Poolers"
All walkers are dismissed simultaneously to the rectory side of the building. Students should not be at play on the rectory lawn or in the rectory driveway. Those who are meeting car pools should do so promptly so as to alleviate traffic difficulties.




Weather Difficulties
In the event of severe weather St. Joseph School will follow the decision of the local Board of Education as to whether or not school will be In session. This decision will be announced over WNLC-1510, WTYD-FM and TV Channels 30 and 3.