Saint Dominic School

Saint Dominic School

Family Handbook

Early Childhood Development

Elementary Education

School-Age Care

1474 East Center Street

Kingsport, TN 37664

(423) 245-8491

Many families; one family.

All are welcome!

Mission

As a ministry of our Catholic community, Saint Dominic Catholic School believes in the blessings of faith through Jesus Christ; inspires spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical growth; and celebrates God’s gracious gifts.

Vision

Saint Dominic Catholic School’s dedication to faith, each other, and the development of children in Christ’s image, leads all to become lifelong learners committed to the service of humankind.TABLE OF CONTENTS

MISSION STATEMENT………………………………………..3

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 7

Diocesan Policies and Procedures 7

Handbook Policy Application 7

ADMISSION 8

Availability of Catholic Education 8

Class Size 8

Immunization 8

Non-Discrimination Policy 8

Order of Acceptance 9

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL 9

Dismissal Procedure 10

Wednesday Dismissal 12

Early Dismissal 12

Releasing Students to Adults Other than Parents 12

ATTENDANCE 14

Communicatin absences…………………………………….... 15

Exemptions 15

Perfect Attendance Awards 15

Sickness 15

Head lice Procedure……………………………………….…16

Tardiness 18

DISCIPLINE 19

DRESS CODE & /UNIFORM POLICY……………………...….20

School Uniforms ..……………………………………………21

Compliance………………… ………………………………...23

School Uniforms Error! Bookmark not defined.

Uniform-Free Days 25

FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS 25

Tuition Assistance Error! Bookmark not defined.Tuition assistance… .………………………………………...26

PARENT PARTNERSHIPS 27

Communication from the School 27

Official School Organizations 27

Parent Appeal 28

Parent Conferences 28

Parent Responsibility for Providing Student Information 28

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES 29

Mass and Rosary Error! Bookmark not defined.

Nondiscrimination Practices 29

Religion Class: Participation 30

Sunday Activities and Sports at School 30

SAFETY, SECURITY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE 31

Authorization for Release from School 31

Emergency Information 31

Emergency Procedures 31

In-School Sickness or Injury of Student 32

Inclement Weather 32

Inclement Weather: School Age Care 32

Medication 33

Running 33

Security 33

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: ACADEMIC 34

Educational Trips/Outings 34

Permissible Non-Classroom Activities 34

5th Grade End of Year Trip Error! Bookmark not defined.

Homework 35

Related Arts Classes 36

Art 36

Library 37

Music 37

Physical Education 38

Report Cards and Grading 38

Retention 38

Testing 39

Textbooks 39

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: NON-ACADEMIC 39

Lunch 39

Free and Reduced Meal Benefit 40

Recess 41

School Functions 41

School Parties 42

SCHOOL POLICIES 43

Change in Physical Custody of Child 43

Child Brutality, Abuse, Neglect, or Child Sexual Abuse: Reporting 43

Environment: Smoke Free/Alcohol Free/Drug Free 43

Personnel and Regular Volunteers: Alleged Sexual Misconduct Diocesan Policy 44

Rules and Procedures 44

Telephone 44

Visits to School 44

Weapons 45

eXtras 45

Approval: School 45

Electronic Devices 46

Invitations for Activities Outside of the School (i.e. Birthday Parties) 46

Family Handbook 46

Student Personal Property 46

HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK

Any reference to “Parent” is understood to mean parent or legal guardian.

For easy reference, this document has been organized alphabetically by both major headings and sub-headings.

This document has been hyperlinked to facilitate easy online viewing. It can be found on the school website. Below are the links to the website and to the SDCS Facebook page.

http://www.saintdominiccatholicschool.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Dominic-School-Kingsport-TN/113141735407467?v=info

Diocesan Policies and Procedures

Most procedures in the Saint Dominic School Family Handbook have been developed in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Schools. Copies of the Diocesan Policy and Procedure Manual are kept in the school office, the principal’s office, and the library. These are available for reference by parents upon request.

Handbook Policy Application

All policies and procedures listed in this handbook apply to all students and programs, unless specifically stated otherwise (e. g. the uniform policy is only applicable to students in the K – 5 elementary school program).

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the main office of SDCS.

ADMISSION

Age of Eligibility

In compliance with the State of Tennessee Department of Education, Kindergarten applicants should be five (5) years old on or before August 15 of the school year in which they apply. Kindergarten is compulsory in the State of Tennessee. First grade applicants should be six (6) years old on or before August 15 of the school year in which they apply.

Availability of Catholic Education

No Catholic child will be denied a Catholic education because of inability to pay tuition. Families seeking assistance will be referred to FACTS on the SDCS website to learn more about potential assistance. Families are encouraged to seek advice and council from both principal and pastor as needed. (Policy & Procedure #1060)

Class Size

As per guidelines for the State of Tennessee, kindergarten through third grade must have a class size average of 20 or less students per grade with a per classroom maximum of 25 students. Fourth and fifth grades must have a class size average of 25 or less students with a per classroom maximum of 30 students. SDCS values the learning environment of each classroom and attempts to keep class size below these guidelines.

Immunization

All students must have the proper certified immunization records in their school files. Failure to do so may exclude the student from school until such time as their file is brought up to date. The State of Tennessee audits immunization records.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Saint Dominic School programs are open to people of all races, color, or national and ethnic origin and all are entitled to the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to children at the school. Saint Dominic School programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic or other school administered programs.

It is the parents’ responsibility to provide all files for the student prior to acceptance. Failure to do so may result in the student being denied acceptance. If it is discovered after the student has been admitted that records were withheld, the parents may be asked to withdraw the student. (Diocese of Knoxville Policy & Procedure #1010)

Order of Acceptance

St. Dominic School will admit all Catholic and non-Catholic applicants who were enrolled the previous year, assuming that attendance was beneficial to all. Other students will be enrolled according to the following priority:

1.  Catholic children in the parish

2.  Catholic children without a parish school

3.  Non-Catholic children with siblings already enrolled in the school

4.  Catholic children from other parish schools

5.  Non-Catholic children

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

It is expected that parents ensure their child(ren) arrive at school on time and, if applicable, ensure they are picked up within 15 minutes after dismissal. People of all faiths walk the SDCS halls and all are welcome.

Staff members will supervise students for 30 minutes before school begins, and 15 minutes after school is dismissed. School Age Care is available for students who need care before or after these times. The regular elementary schedule (K through 5) for Saint Dominic School is as follows:

7:00 - 7:30 a.m. Before School Care

(A separate charge applies.)

All should enter through the gym doors.

7:30 - 8:00 a.m. Students supervised in the gym

All should enter through the front doors at the office area.

8:00 - 3:00 p.m. Elementary classes in session.

(Students who arrive after 8 a.m. and are not signed in by an adult will receive an Unexcused Tardy.)

8:00 – noon Pre-school classes in session.

*3:00 - 3:15 p.m. Students supervised in classrooms during dismissal.

3:15 - 5:45 p.m. After School Care for elementary students

Noon – 5:45 p.m. After School Care for pre-school students

(A separate charge applies.)

*Each Wednesday, dismissal is at 2 p.m. and students are supervised in classrooms from 2 - 2:15 p.m. during dismissal.

Dismissal Procedure

School staff will take the names of drivers who are waiting to pick up students. Students will remain in their regular classrooms until their names are announced on the intercom for dismissal. All students remaining in the classroom at 3:15 p.m. will be dismissed to After School Care.

Between 3:00 and 3:15 p.m., elementary students (K through 5) may be picked up in either of two ways:

1.  Parents/drivers may park in the playground lot, walk across Crescent Street, and wait outside the building for students to be dismissed.

2.  Parents/drivers may wait in their vehicles on Crescent Drive for students to be dismissed. The names from the first vehicles will be called. As those cars load and leave, the remaining cars will advance down into the area between bottom curb and driveway. Their names will then be called. If you need to be at the school for an extended period of time, please park in the playground parking lot. That way you will not impede the flow of dismissal. You must not wait mid-hill to make a left turn.

IMPORTANT

The safety of your children is our primary concern. Loading on Crescent Drive is a privilege. Patience and cooperation in all who participate is essential to assuring each child is returned home safely. Do not block any lane on Watauga Street or on Crescent Drive during dismissal. Normal traffic flow must have lanes open to go through the light. If there is not enough space for your car to fit in the Crescent Drive dismissal line without your car sticking out, please wait patiently in the indented area on Watauga Street, just above the red and white playground area. Wait there until cars on Crescent Drive move down. Between 7:30 and 8 a.m. and between 2:30 and 3:15 p.m., Crescent Drive is a loading and unloading zone only. Students should load and unload on the curbside only. Please do not make a U-turn on Crescent Drive during pick-up and drop-off in order to get into the carpool line. Please make the turn from Watauga Street. Double parking on Crescent Drive is against the law. Turning left from the right-turn-only lane on Crescent Drive is against the law. Do not block the driveway at the pre-school playground near the bottom of Crescent Drive. Do not pull into that driveway to turn around. The drop-off/pick-up area on Center Street, near the gym entrances, is a handicapped-accessible entry and should remain clear. That area is restricted to people who are handicapped, people who are clergy, or people who will be in the building for only a short period of time (30 minutes or less). All students, parents, and visitors should enter the building through the front doors at the corner of Crescent Drive and Center Street by the main office between 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on regular school days.

Wednesday Dismissal

School dismissal time on Wednesdays is 2 p.m., providing time for faculty and staff meetings.

Early Dismissal

No student may be removed from the school premises during school hours without being signed out at the office by a parent.

It is requested that non-school appointments be made outside of school hours. When it is necessary for appointments to be made during school hours, it is required that a note be sent to the teacher. The teacher will turn in this note to the office. A student may be released from school only to his/her parents or other authorized persons. (See Releasing Students to Adults Other than Parents below.) The person coming to pick up the student should report to the office, sign the child out, and wait for the student to be sent to the office.

Releasing Students to Adults Other than Parents

If a student is leaving SDCS supervision with an adult other than the parent, the procedure is as follows:

1.  The parent/guardian MUST send a signed, dated note (text messages and e-mail notification are acceptable) to SDCS’s main office giving permission for the child to leave with another person.

2.  When a note is provided to the teacher, the teacher will initial the note and send it to the main office.

3.  If we are not familiar with the adult picking up your child, we will ask to see identification. If that person is not on your “approved pick-up” list, we will be contacting you before letting your child leave the premises. This is for the safety of each child.

ATTENDANCE

School attendance is required by state law. Since class participation comprises a significant portion of the grade, in the event a student has been absent for more than one-third (1/3) of a grading period, the principal, in consultation with the teacher, may determine whether or not a grade is assigned for that grading period.

Since class participation comprises a significant portion of the grade, in the event that a student has thirty (30) absences (excused or unexcused) during a school year, the principal will determine whether or not the student is retained in the same grade level.

Frequent absences impede the learning process. After five (5) unexcused absences, the Superintendent will be notified as stated in Tennessee Code Annotated #49-6-3007. In addition, the local school district is to be notified. Upon returning to school, the student must submit a written note from the parent stating the reason for the student’s absence. The principal will make the decision as to whether an absence is excused or unexcused.

Students will be required to complete missed class or homework assignments, as deemed appropriate by the teacher.

Guidelines for communicating absences

1. It is the family’s responsibility to call the school by 9 a.m. when a student is going to be absent that day. If the school has not been contacted by then, SDCS personnel will make reasonable effort to contact the family.
2. Families are required to send a written excuse stating the reason for any absence. When the student returns to school after being absent, the written excuse is to be given to the teacher who signs it and sends it to the main office. Arrangements for making up work missed during a student’s absence should involve the classroom teacher when the student returns to school. Work may be sent home if the student will be out more than one day. Families must call the office by 9 a.m. to request make-up work. Make-up assignments must be picked up by 3:30 p.m.

3.  If a student is tardy, his/her family must sign the student in at the office.