Handbook Agreement
(Please complete and return this agreement to the School Office
no later than August 24, 2007 with parent and student (grades 4-8) signature(s).)
GENERAL INFORMATION
History of St. Peter's
In 1926, Father Baque opened St. Peter's School with a staff of three Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. In 1948, the present primary School building was constructed. In 1955, the two-story Annex building was added. As of 1995, St. Peter's School became a part of the Brainpower Connection with the University of the Incarnate Word. The Brainpower connection is collaboration between the University and St. Peter's to share resources and personnel wherever possible and to promote education from its foundation in Elementary School to its summit at the University. In 1997, construction on the Community Center was completed. The Community Center provides St. Peter's School with a gymnasium, Science lab and Art studio. St. Peter’s School has been awarded the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence twice, in the 1985-1986 school year and again in the 2005-2006 school year.
St. Peter's Mission Statement
We the members of St. Peter's Parish are committed to witnessing and sharing the love of Christ. St. Peter's School offers our children an excellent education within a community of faith; a community in which the parish's faith, values, and attitudes are reinforced and lived within an educational setting that encourages growth and self-esteem. Our children, formed in Christian values, give witness to the Gospel in the Church and in society.
St. Peter's School is an expression of the parish's belief that each child is a unique gift of God and a special promise for the future. Each deserves respect, affirmation, and support in the development of his/her talents and individuality. The school helps each child reach full potential with awareness of being a child of God.
We recognize the parents are the primary educators of their children. The school supports and reinforces the parents' desire to give their child a holistic education based on sound academics and Christian values. (Reviewed 6/07)
St. Peter's Philosophy Statements
We believe in a holistic approach to education. Therefore, the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of our children are addressed through excellent programming.
We believe that the parish is responsible for the Catholic formation of its young people. Therefore, the school sees itself as one avenue the parish uses to pass on its faith and traditions to its children.
We believe in the goodness and uniqueness of each person. Therefore, each teacher, staff member, parent and child is treated with care and respect.
We believe that truth is rooted in values and principles found in Christ's teachings. Therefore, Christ's teachings are related in all course content.
We believe that knowledge and values are taught within the context of the community. Therefore, the School continues to foster a community of faith consistent with and in union with the faith community of the parish.
We believe that Catholic formation is critical. Therefore, classes in Catholic teachings are included in the curriculum.
We believe that parents have the primary responsibility as educators of their children. Therefore, the School is supportive of the parents' role
We believe that a wholesome self-esteem is critical to the educational success of each child. Therefore, the School creates and maintains an atmosphere conducive to enhancing a positive self-image.
We believe that children have the responsibility to participate in the faith life of the community. Therefore, opportunities to become involved in the liturgical, social and political life of the community are provided.
We believe that Catholic education is a critical part of the Church's ministry. Therefore, we make every effort to support and encourage the development of Catholic education in the Archdiocese and beyond.
We believe that the School plays a vital role in the parish. Therefore, every effort is made to ensure the School’s continued growth and development. (Reviewed 6/07)
Accreditation
The Accreditation Commission of the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department recognizes St. Peter’s School as an Accredited School. The Texas Catholic Conference Accreditation Commission is the official accrediting agency for Catholic Schools of Texas. The Texas Education Agency recognizes it as such.
Policy Statements
The policies and guidelines established by the Archdiocese of San Antonio are followed.
Every aspect of St. Peter’s School is subject to regular evaluation, and new program areas are established only after thorough study and evaluation of the availability of resources to fund the endeavor and the parish's need for the program.
Teachers, staff and students at St. Peter’s School project Christian attitudes at school and in the community.
Catholic children who attend St. Peter's School, and their parents/guardians, are asked to attend Sunday mass and in general, participate in parish life.
Prior to student admission and/or student attendance, an annual policy agreement is signed by parents/guardians and is on file.
Specific procedures and policies are outlined in the St. Peter's Parent/Student Handbook found on the school website.
Throughout the year as situations arise, the Principal, in consultation with the School Council, may amend this handbook as necessary.
St. Peter's School admits students of any race or national origin to programs and activities with all rights and privileges. Equal opportunity and access is provided to students without regard to race, national origin or gender.
Pastor
The Pastor is the leader of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles Parish and School. The Archbishop, the Archdiocesan Schools Office and the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED) have entrusted authority to him. The Pastor is responsible for fostering, nurturing, guiding and coordinating all of the ministries of the parish. He delegates the administration of the school to the Principal, who administers the school in accordance with Archdiocesan policies and guidelines. The Pastor and Principal cooperate and offer mutual support in matters of educational policy and practice. As leader of the decision-making process in the Parish, the Pastor’s authority includes the approval of all recommendations made by the Principal and/or School Council. The Pastor plays a primary role in the development and implementation of the school’s budget.
Selection of the Principal includes the recommendation of a search committee appointed by the Pastor. The Principal is hired by the Pastor, in consultation with the Superintendent of Schools in the Archdiocese, and as per a ministry agreement from the Catholic Schools Office.
School Council
The School Council’s authority is derived from the Pastor. The School Council’s mission is to consult with the Principal and Pastor in areas of school business: policy, development, strategic planning, and finance. The School Council consists of the Pastor, the Principal, three appointed and nine elected parents/parishioners, and the PTC President. School Council meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The Agenda and Minutes are posted in both school buildings for parent and parish view.
Principal
The Principal is the chief operational officer of the School and has responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day operation of the School. The Principal is responsible for setting policy, monitoring the strategic plan, approving procedures, reviewing programs, evaluating faculty, supervision of maintenance/custodial personnel and physical plant repairs/improvements, governance of student discipline, supervising staff and staff development, and determining all matters of admission, expulsion, release of student records, and graduation. The Principal formulates and oversees the budget and handles all areas of personnel, including hiring and dismissal. The Principal maintains an office on the ground floor at the Primary.
Assistant Principal
The Assistant Principal assists the Principal in the day-to-day operations of the School. This administrator’s main responsibilities include, but are not limited to: overseeing the curricula of grades PK3-3rd grade, curriculum alignment PK-3 through 8, and curriculum development in Fine Arts. The Assistant Principal organizes meetings with staff to ensure that TCCED requirements are followed; reviews lesson plans, and ensures that needed resources are obtained. When the Principal is unavailable, the Assistant Principal serves as the administrator in charge. The Assistant Principal maintains an office in the Annex.
Dean of Student Activities
The Dean of Student Activities is responsible for developing and implementing programs providing direct assistance to students in both co-curricular and curricular projects. The Dean helps provide new student orientations, bridge programs between primary, intermediate and middle school, monitors student dances/socials, assists class officers with meetings & class activities, coordinates peer assistance programs and other student activities and field trips. The Dean maintains an office in the Annex Building.
Development Director
The Development Director assists St. Peter’s Parish and School maintain a healthy community by growing relationships that support and improve image and financial stability. The Development Director assists primarily through retention and attraction activities such as marketing, fundraising, communication and special programs.
PAC (Principal’s Advisory Council)
The PAC assists the Principal and Assistant Principal in the operation of St. Peter’s School. This consultative committee supports the administration in matters of school policies, procedures and programs. Membership is comprised of the head Homeroom Parent from each class. Members receive suggestions and or concerns on school related issues from the administration and acts as a channel of communication to parents as requested.
Annex Office Manager
The Annex Office Manager coordinates information within the schools, between parents and administration and between parish and school. She also manages teacher personnel records and payroll, records professional growth and attendance for each teacher and coordinates substitutes for teacher absences and field trips. The Annex Office Manager maintains an office in room 106 in the Annex.
Primary Office Manager/Registrar
The Primary Office Manager answers the telephone and coordinates the voicemail system. She checks in/out students and visitors in the primary building, and handles registration for all new students/families. The Primary Office Manager coordinates information, reserves facilities and disseminates mail and messages. The Primary Office Manager/Registrar maintains an office on the ground level of the Primary Building.
School Accounts Manager
The Accounts Manager works with the Principal and Finance Chairman from the School Council to ensure the approved budget is maintained. The Accounts Manager maintains the tuition accounts and assists with other financial responsibilities as needed. The Accounts Manager maintains an office in the Community Center, Room 102.
Health Coordinator
The Health Coordinator maintains all Health and Immunization Records for the School, coordinates and facilitates all required Health Screenings and handles student ailments, medications and communications with families related to accidents and/or ailments. The Health Coordinator has a clinic behind the Parish Hall.
Teachers
Teachers at St. Peter's are degreed, professional individuals. The classroom teacher is the heart of the School and is primarily responsible for ensuring that students at St. Peter's School have a well-organized environment conducive to learning. Teachers maintain classrooms in a professional manner and maintain communications with parents to ensure student success.
Paraprofessionals/Aides
When student enrollment permits, paraprofessionals, also referred to as Teacher's Aides, are assigned specific areas of responsibility. These aides remain with the assigned grade and perform assigned duties from the classroom teacher.
PTC
The purpose of the St. Peter's Parent Teacher Club is to foster a close union between parents and teachers, and to coordinate the activities for the welfare of the school. Parents/guardians of students attending St. Peter's School are considered active members of this club. A $35 fee per family is paid at registration. These fees are used to provide the school with educational materials to enhance the quality of education. PTC meetings are held in September, February and May.
St. Peter's School parent volunteers are a very special resource. Parents help in classrooms, help with programs, and assist with co-curricular activities. Parents are encouraged to sign up for volunteer services needed by the school and parish (see Service Work Policy). Parent volunteers have a current Criminal Background/History check on file and always sign-in to secure a Visitor Pass. Homeroom Parents are volunteer parents whose task is to assist their child's homeroom teacher. Some of these activities include organizing classroom parties, making phone calls, and arranging for workers at the various School activities. Directives for the year are given at a special meeting for Homeroom Parents. During this meeting specific duties are outlined for the year. Special duties are also made known to Homeroom Parents. Homeroom Parents are part of the Principal's Advisory Committee (PAC), which meets once a month.
ADMISSIONS
St. Peter's School follows the age guidelines for School entrance set by the State of Texas:
· A student is 3 years of age on or before September 1 and “potty trained” to enter the K3 program.
· A student is age 4 on or before September 1st to enter the K4 program.
· A student is age 5 on or before September 1st to enter Kindergarten.
· A student is age 6 on or before September 1st to enter first grade.
Records Required
For a child to be considered for acceptance into St. Peter's, the following records must be submitted:
· Original Birth or Baptismal certificate.
· Complete immunization records must be provided prior to the students first day of class.
· Student's most recent report card (grades 1-8).
· Standardized test scores (grades 1-8.)
· Student's Social Security card.
Entrance Tests
Students in grades 2-8 may be asked to take an entrance test prior to acceptance at St. Peter's School if current testing information is not available from their prior school. Students entering Kindergarten, who have not been in a St. Peter's Pre-K program, may take a readiness test before acceptance is granted. A $10 fee per student for entrance tests is assessed.
Information Days
During the month of January, St. Peter's Community designates several days as "Information Days" for prospective students. During this time, parents and students may tour the School, pick up registration information and ask questions. Interested parents may call the School at any time during the year and request information be mailed to them or to schedule a tour.
Registration
Immediately following the information days, registration for the upcoming School year begins. Registration packets are sent home with current students. (To cover printing expenses, there is a $10 fee to replace lost registration packets.) Registration is based on a first come, first served basis with priority being given in the order of: current students, siblings of current students, parishioners and new families. A student's place is guaranteed after all forms and registration fees have been submitted and entrance exams have been taken. The $100 registration fee is non-refundable. Registration information is also available at www.stpeterprince.org.
Orientation
During the week prior to the beginning of the school year, orientation is scheduled for new and returning students and parents in all grades. Procedures and policies for the upcoming School year are explained at this time. Students have an opportunity to pick up their schedules and meet their teachers while parents have the opportunity to do the following:
These forms are available on our website at www.stpeterprince.org and should be completed prior to the meeting and brought with you to the orientation session. Students may not attend classes until all forms are on file.
Student Records
A cumulative record is maintained on each child from his/her entrance to exit from St. Peter's School. The record complies with the Texas Education Agency and the requirements for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. St. Peter's School recognizes the parent and student's rights to privacy; thus, school records are accessible only to school officials and teachers St. Peter's School who have a legitimate interest. State and local officials who have need for access of records under the law, research organizations that will not identify students or parents, or parent or legal guardian of the student.
Records are released to other individuals only with the written consent of the parents. If a child leaves St. Peter's School, records are mailed directly to the child's new school. Parents are not permitted to ‘hand-carry’ original records to a new school.
Any parent wishing an explanation or interpretation of the student's cumulative record can make a written request to the Principal; students 14 years or older can make a written request for an explanation or interpretation of his/her cumulative record.
Transfer/Withdrawal
Parents may transfer students into or withdraw students from St. Peter's School at any point during the year. To transfer in, all regular admission requirements are followed. When a student must be transferred from St. Peter's School during the school year, parents are asked to make an appointment for an exit conference with the Principal at least five days prior to withdrawing. This allows the school time to ensure that all fees, tuition and cafeteria charges are cleared, and all library and textbooks are returned. When all fees are paid in full and all academic requirements met, St. Peter’s School is permitted to forward cumulative records to the student's new school.
It is a privilege to be a part of the St. Peter’s Community; the right to deny admission or request withdrawal of any student/family that does not meet the academic, behavioral, and/or financial obligations as outlined within this handbook resides with the administration.
8th Grade Transfer
Students entering 8th grade may transfer into St. Peter's School providing they pass the entrance exam or have current testing documentation and have no history of behavioral or academic problems at their previous school.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND UNIFORMS
Supply Lists
Each summer, parents receive a list of supplies to be purchased for the upcoming school year; it is also on our website. In upper grades, summer reading and Spanish activities are published to assist students in preparing for the next school year. Middle School students choose two electives and may receive supply lists or fee charges for necessary materials.
Textbooks
Textbooks are purchased by the school and rented to students. Each student is responsible for the set of books provided for his/her use. All textbooks are neatly covered during the first week of School and remain covered for the remainder of the school year. Students may not write in textbooks or deface them in any way (including using contact paper on the covers). Students pay for books that are damaged or lost.
Backpacks
The school has limited classroom and locker space; students are asked to bring only one book-bag/back-pack (no larger than 11x24) to school. Students involved in sports may bring an extra sports bag. Sports bags are taken to the gym before the school day begins for storage until practice. Book bags are not used to bring other items to school which are not allowed or which can be a distraction or potential safety problem.
Lockers
A locker is assigned to each student grades 4-8 at the beginning of the School year. Students keep lockers clean and orderly; they do not abuse them in any way. Permanent materials are not attached, glued, or painted on the locker, inside or outside. The inside door of the locker remains free of posters, pictures, mirrors, and the like. St. Peter’s School is not responsible for valuables left in lockers. When circumstances require a student to bring something of value, the student leaves it in the Office for safekeeping or gives it to the homeroom/advisory teacher. Lockers are always closed properly and are not kicked or slammed shut to ensure they are able to close securely. Damaged lockers are repaired as quickly as possible, at the expense of the assigned student. Combination locks are the only type of locks permitted; the homeroom teacher and office must be provided the combination. Students may not share lockers nor enter any locker not assigned to them for any reason.
Uniforms
All students (K3-8) at St. Peter's School wear the School’s adopted uniform beginning the first day of school through May. Uniforms are purchased at Parker Uniform Company, 2108 NW Military Hwy and used uniforms are available in the school store next to the cafeteria. Because uniforms look alike, all articles of clothing should be marked with the student's name; as ink markings eventually wash out, it is best to use ‘sew-in’ labels.
On liturgy days, students wear the green uniform sweater if the temperature is below 60 degrees; boys in grades 6-8 wear a white button down collar shirt and black tie. Students may purchase St. Peter's School windbreakers; however, these do not replace the school sweater. The school windbreaker is worn in classrooms only when over the school sweater. Other jackets may be worn before or after school and to lunch but are returned to lockers during the school day. Students may wear a white long sleeve turtleneck under their shirt, blouse or sweater in cooler weather (below 60 degrees); no printed or colored t-shirts are worn under the uniform shirt or blouse.
Non-compliance with the uniform policy results in disciplinary action. Habitual disregard for the uniform policy can result in withdrawal of the child(ren). Students receive a discipline notation for a uniform violation. Students may rent a missing tie or belt for $1 from the office in lieu of a discipline infraction. Written notice of reasons for non-compliance with the uniform policy may be given to the School Office by the parent each time the child is not in complete uniform.
Boys Uniforms
Green Twill Pants or Green Twill Walking Shorts
Plain black belt (grades 3-8),
White Pique Knit Shirt
White button down collar dress shirt for Liturgy days worn with black tie (grades 6-8)
Green V-Neck or Cardigan Pullover sweater with school monogram
Dark Green Jersey Shorts for PE (Grades 6-8)
K3 and K4 students wear green twill walking shorts or pants and spirit shirts; white polo on liturgy day.
Girls Uniforms
Sequoia Plaid Skort or Jumper (Grades K5-3), Green Twill Walking Shorts (K3-K4 and optional on non-liturgy days for K5-8th), Sequoia Plaid Skirt (Grades 4-8), or Green Twill Pants
White Poplin Middy Over-blouse and Sequoia Plaid Tie (Grades K5-8)
Green V-Neck or Cardigan Pullover sweater with school monogram; 8th graders may wear gray sweater with school monogram
Dark Green Jersey Shorts for PE (Grades 6-8)
K3 and K4 students wear green twill walking shorts or pants and spirit shirts; white polo on liturgy day.
All hair accessories must match the school uniform plaid (or solid green, black, white, red only).
Required Shoes
The following shoes are acceptable footwear for students at St. Peter's. Students wear white crew socks with no markings of any kind with school shoes; green or white knee socks are permissible for girls.
Boys Black leather shoes such as "Victory", "Andy", "Winner", or "Ultra Walker Propet"
Girls White leather shoes such as "Victory", Andy", Ultra Walker or Fun Walker Propet" No markings of any shape or color (including no gray or silver) are permitted; 6-8 grade girls may wear a black leather penny loafer such as the Bass loafer and bring tennis shoes for PE.
K3, K4, and K5 students wear only Velcro shoes.
School shoes are cleaned regularly, polished as needed and never worn with holes or tears.
Uniform Fit/Tidiness
Uniforms are always clean, tidy, in good repair and fit the student:
· One 8 mm., 18” chain with a religious medal may be worn inside the shirt.
· Chokers and collar necklaces are not worn on uniform or free dress days.
The St. Peter’s School uniform is worn properly:
· Boys wear belts with shirts tucked in.
· Pants are worn at or above the hips and are properly buttoned and belted.
· Girls wear the school tie, only SPS pins are permitted on the tie. Skirts/skorts/shorts are no shorter than 3 inches above the top of the knee.
Grooming
High standards of grooming are very important, not only at St. Peter's, but in the real world as well.
· Hair is kept neat, clean and away from the face. Hair is not dyed in colors or cut in faddish fashion. For boys: ponytails and hair past the collar is not permitted.
· Boys experiencing the growth of facial hair must shave.
· Tattoos and writing, temporary or permanent, are not worn; body piercing is not allowed.
· Students do not wear facial make-up, acrylic nails or nail polish during school hours.
· One watch, and one pair of stud earrings (for girls) is permitted.
Free Dress Days
Throughout the year, there are days designated as "free dress." Free dress passes will include the name of the student and date of issue and/or expiration date. Clothing worn for ‘free dress’ is in good taste and does not distract from the learning process. In poor taste are very baggy pants, T-shirts with logos or inappropriate advertisements (alcohol, sex, tobacco, drugs etc.), bandanas, midriff, halter, strapless, exposed back, sheer or tank top shirts, and jeans with holes or tears. Many shorts are acceptable, however, cut-offs, spandex or Lycra, gym shorts, form fitting bicycle shorts, wind shorts, and shorts with holes or tears are not acceptable. All other requirements related to jewelry, nail polish, make-up, shoes and the like are aligned with our uniform policy. The administration calls parents of students who are dressed inappropriately and asks that new clothing be brought to school or that the student be taken home to receive an unexcused absence.
Changing Clothing After-School
St. Peter’s students represent our community at all times and especially when in uniform. Students arrive at and leave from School wearing the required (full) uniform. Students in the sports program change for sports practice. Students in the After School Program may wear their school or PE shorts during hot weather, but remain in full uniform otherwise.
Lost and Found
Items that are found are brought to one of the School offices. When a child's name is in the item, it is returned to the child. If a lost article is not in the School office, please check the child's classroom(s), playground, the cafeteria lost and found bin, and with After School Care staff.
General Description
St. Peter's School has two facilities. Administration offices for the Principal and the Primary Office Manager are located at 112 Marcia Place in what is known as the Primary Building. The Primary Building houses Pre-K3 through 3rd grade. The Cafeteria, a primary library, music room, art room, health coordinator office and the Parish Hall are also located in or near the Primary Building. The Annex Building is located one block north of the Primary building at the corner of Grove and Cleveland. The Annex houses grades 4-8. The Annex is connected to the Community Center, which contains the gym, Library, Art studio, Science lab, the Assistant Principal’s Office, Office Manager’s office, Accounts Manager’s Office and Dean of Student Activities office.
Reservation/Use of Facilities
Various groups for school and parish related activities reserve rooms in the Primary Building and Annex. Reservations for school related activities are handled through the Primary Office Manager. Reservations for the ancillary activities such as Scouts are handled through the Parish Office at 822-3367.
Drop Off/Pick-Up
Students may be dropped off beginning at 7 a.m. in the Cafeteria. School begins at 8 a.m. for students in grades K3-3rd and at 7:50 a.m. for students in grades 5-8. Students arriving before 7:40 a.m. are dropped off at the cafeteria. After 7:40 a.m., students are taken directly to their classroom. Primary parents are asked to park in the Barilla Place parking lot. K3/K4 students are escorted into the cafeteria or the classroom by their parent/guardian or may be dropped off at the Marcia Place entrance and will be escorted by the Safety Patrol.
For safety reasons, students may not be outside classrooms prior to 7:40 as staff is in morning Prayer Meeting.
Students are picked up immediately after School dismissal at their assigned building; when a student is not picked up after 10 minutes they are escorted to After School Care, signed in as a “Drop In” and charged as published. Students in the primary building are dismissed at 3:00 and picked up on the curbside of the street. Parents either pull up to the curb and pick up their child or park and cross the street and come get their child. It is very dangerous to allow a child to cross traffic to get to a parent in a waiting car and staff will make every attempt to prevent this action. The Safety Patrol or staff will assist with cross walk and safe pick up on Marcia Place.
Students at the Annex are dismissed at 3:20 and are picked up in the Parking Lot or along Cleveland Court (not at curbside or along Grove Street.) It is very dangerous to allow a child to cross traffic to get to a parent in a waiting car and staff will make every attempt to prevent this action. The Safety Patrol monitors the crosswalk to ensure safety.
SCHEDULES and ACTIVITIES
Daily Schedules
St. Peter's School year has 180 instructional days. Students are scheduled for a specified amount of time in each subject area, following TCCED guidelines. Changes are occasionally made with approval of the Principal or Assistant Principal.
Minimum School Days/Early Release
Twelve minimum day/early-release days are scheduled to accommodate teacher in-service requirements. Minimum day/early-release is generally scheduled for the day before a holiday. Students are dismissed at 12:30 p.m. on these days. Students will be served lunches on these days prior to dismissal. These dates are noted on the monthly calendar published in the Tiger Tales, on our website, and on the yearly calendar.
In-service Days
The Archdiocese of San Antonio requires all Catholic Schools conduct 4 days of teacher in-service plus 42 hours of professional development hours. In-service days are noted on the monthly calendar. Most of these days are early release days or are prior to the School year.
Inclement Weather
During inclement weather, local radio stations and television stations normally announce School closings. The Archdiocesan Schools Office makes the decision to close all Catholic Schools when the weather is bad throughout the Archdiocesan area. Missed days are generally made up in accordance with the Archdiocesan School policy. Listen for OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE ON TV and RADIO STATIONS. St. Peter’s School also closes school if Alamo Heights School District closes school.
St. Peter 's Annual Events
Although some events change from year to year, St. Peter's School has several events that occur annually. The school calendar is located on our web-site at www.stpeterprince.org. Other events and new dates are announced in the monthly calendar sent out with the Tiger Tales Newsletter. Tiger Tales is published each Monday and is a primary source of communication.
FINANCIAL & SERVICE OBLIGATIONS
Tuition
Tuition rates are reviewed by the School Council and set each January for the following School year. Tuition agreements are based on 9, 10, 11 or 12-month payment plans.
It is the policy of St. Peter’s Prince of Apostles School to manage tuition accounts in a fair, just and timely manner in order to ensure the financial well being of the school.
· Payment is due the 1st of each month beginning in June, July, August or September.
· Payment may be mailed or brought to the School Office by a parent/guardian.
· Use blue or black ink when paying by Check. A NSF fee of $35 is charged when required.
· VISA, MasterCard and Discover is accepted for tuition payments. Credit cards are presented in person and are not subject to refunds.
· For your convenience, your checking or savings account can be debited each month. See the Account Manager for easy set up procedures.
· When tuition is not into the School Accounts Office by the end of the school day on the 5th day of the month, a $25 late fee is added and invoiced to the home address. (If the 5th day falls on a weekend, the next business day applies.) When necessary, a second invoice with an additional late fee of $25 is mailed to the home address.
· Access to RenWeb, Report Cards and Records is removed when financial obligations are not met.
· Student(s) are withdrawn from St. Peter’s School on the first day of the second month that tuition is not paid or written payment agreements have been made.
· Diplomas, grades, transcripts, and report cards are released when full payment is made.
· When a family experiences unusual or unforeseen circumstance it is appropriate to call the School office before the 3rd of the month; generally tuition assistance or special arrangements can be made.
· Both the Archdiocese of San Antonio and St. Peter’s School do have limited funds for tuition assistance to families in need or to families who experience a crisis situation. In addition, the Parish grants one full tuition scholarship to a Middle School applicant each school year through the Msgr. Pugh Scholarship fund
The following criteria are necessary to qualify and maintain Parish (discounted) Tuition Rates:
v Registration and active participation as a member of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Parish for at least 3 or more months.
v Stewardship participation is at least $50 monthly, payable to St. Peters Church. Check, church envelopes (marked with account number), bank draft or credit cards are accepted.
v If regular contributions cease, Parish Tuition payment will revert back to St. Peter’s School Regular Tuition Rate. Membership in the Parish is not affected.
v When a discount for “Parish Tuition Rates” is selected, no other discounts apply (e.g. BrainPower discount).
After the eligibility requirements set by the Parish have been met, application for Parish Tuition Rate must be made through the School Account Manager, Dawn Guajardo. It is the sole responsibility of the family to make this application (no retroactive refunds will be granted). Furthermore, Parish Tuition Rate will become effective on the first of the month following the school’s receipt of the required information:
1.) A new completed “Parish Tuition” agreement form.
2.) Written approval from the Parish that your family has established eligibility.
A family is notified by the School Account Manager when Parish Tuition Rate has been approved.
Fees
The School Council sets school fees at the same time as tuition rates. Fees are used to cover the cost of building maintenance, textbooks and labs. Certain courses require a fee in addition to the regular School fees. All registration fees are submitted to the School Accounts Office. The $100 registration fee per child is not refundable and may not be transferred to another School. Other registration fees are non-refundable after the due-date.
After School Care
St. Peter's School offers an After School Program on School days from dismissal of School until 6:00 P.M. St. Peter's School Council is the governing (policy-making) body. The Principal is in charge of the After School Program. A Director is appointed by the Principal to oversee the operation of the facility, collect payments, and coordinate the program in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth. The Principal and the Director hire other staff.
Students registered to attend regularly are provided with a snack and are supervised for homework/study time. Young students also have the opportunity to play on the playground with supervision. The same standards of conduct as are required of students as during the normal school day. Students are removed from the After School Care Program on a temporary or permanent basis for misconduct, failure to follow rules, or disruptive behavior.
All students must be registered for After School Care to cover the potential need for care in an emergency. Registration forms are available at the orientation meetings in August or retrieved off our website at www.stpeterprince.org. Policies, rules, payments etc. are available with registration forms.
Monthly payment is expected on the first day of each month. When payment is not received by the 5th of the month, a $25 late fee is automatically assessed with a statement made to the home address. Children may not participate in After School Care until payment is made. All payments may be made with credit cards: VISA, MasterCard or Discover in either office from 7:45 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. or submitted by check with tuition.
Families are charged either a 5pm or 6pm pick-up rate. When a child is picked up after 5 pm on three or more occasions, the student is moved from the 5 pm to the 6 pm rate. When a student is not picked up by 6:00 pm, a charge of $25 per every 10 minute period that day is added. Drop-ins or late pick-up fees are paid on the day they are incurred. When payments are accrued and not paid within a week, a late fee of $10 is assessed. For drop-ins, there is a $5.00 fee per hour or any part of an hour per child. A $35 fee is added for checks returned from the bank for Non-Sufficient-Funds. (NSF). Chronic disregard for financial or other After School Care policies requires a conference with the Administration.
Once enrolled in the ASC program, parents have until the 5th of the month to decide on the monthly rate or drop in rate. Changes must be submitted in writing to the director no later than the 5th of the month; a non-notification fee of $25 is assessed when warranted. When a family using the drop in rates changes to the monthly rate, the amount already paid is credited to the monthly amount. When a family changes from monthly to drop in rate or chooses to sit out the entire month, the unused balance is carried forward to the next month. Only one change is permitted each month. Report cards are held at the end of any nine weeks for any unpaid After School Care fees.
Periodically children are dismissed at 12:30. Students (K3-8th) who remain on the campus after 12:40 are sent to the After School Care Program. ASC fees will apply.
Cafeteria
The priority for our school lunch program is to offer a nutritious re-fueling opportunity for students in a location away from their classroom. Eating in the cafeteria is a privilege for all students who can abide by the lunchroom rules. The cafeteria offers hot, nutritious meals from a catering contract negotiated by the school. Prices for these meals are very reasonable; menus are sent home with the students for the next month and pre-ordered and pre-paid to keep the prices low. (See the Cafeteria Monitor for arrangements when an extended illness could warrant application of fees to the next month). Milk is provided for purchase for all students. Please do not send carbonated drinks for your child’s lunch. Students need to eat lunch every day to stay healthy and alert; please notify the Administration if there is a special circumstance warranting exemption. Students are expected to follow noise level instructions and use their “restaurant manners” in the cafeteria. Students are expected to limit their volume to “Partner Voice” and a table monitor is assigned to assist classmates. “Background music” is often played during the lunch times as long as acceptable and sound level is maintained.
Change of Address
It is imperative the school be informed of any change of address or phone number(s). Current emergency information in the case your child is ill or injured is critical.
Custody of Children
St. Peters abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment regarding the rights of the Non-custodial parents. All court orders are to be on file in the student’s permanent record. In the absence of a court order to the contrary, the school provides a non-custodial parents with access to the academic records and to other school related information regarding the child. A non-custodial parent must give a 24-hour notice of a request. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the court order when a court order specifies no information is to be given to the non-custodial parent or the non-custodial parent may not pick up the child or see the child. All divorced parents are encouraged to provide the school with a copy of the custody section of the divorce decree. Unless otherwise noted only individuals listed on the child’s registration forms are allowed to remove the child from the campus.
Family Service Hours
St. Peter’s PTC administers our Family Service Hours program. This program allows parents of our school children to stay active in their child(ren)’s school life encourages participation in activities associated with school-CYO, Scouting, etc, fundraising activities such as the Halloween Carnival, and the parish and school-sponsored Dinner/Dance. Parents are needed to serve as homeroom parents, a volunteer for a day to help with classroom or teacher needs, or even to serve as a cafeteria monitor. Parent involvement helps keep school tuition and fees low and it makes for happier and better-disciplined students. This program also helps keep parents aware of their child’s academic life and school happenings, and lends to camaraderie between parents and the staff.
The Family Service Hours program is an extension of the Tiger Spirit program. Tiger Spirit is a school-based program designed to encourage the development and recognition of moral excellence within our student body. One of the most effective ways of achieving this is through role modeling. The more parents our students observe participating at school, the greater our ability to support the goals of Tiger Spirit: Tolerance, Integrity, Generosity, Empathy, and Responsibility. These two programs go hand-in-hand to reinforce our philosophy of a school community where all are welcome and share in our goals of academic excellence, religious respect, and a reverence for life.
Each St. Peter’s family is required to provide a minimum of 20 service hours. The hours can be served by a parent, grandparent, or a sibling who is 18 years of age, or older. (The Service hours cannot be earned by St. Peter’s students as the program is specifically designed to encourage a parent’s participation in their child’s school activities. St. Peter’s students in grades 5-8 are responsible for their own service hour program). A family’s service hours should be completed by May 1st. Service hour sheets are available from homeroom parents or on our web site at www.stpeterprince.org.
Families who do not complete their service hours are charged a fee of $500. When service hours are not completed and/or the fee is not paid by the first week in June, the family loses its reserved space for the following school year. In cases of extreme hardship, in which a family feels it cannot fulfill the required service hours, the reason for deferment is submitted to the principal in writing. No grievance or requests for deferment is heard without written submission. All grievances or deferments are decided on a case-by-case basis. All deferments are reviewed again each April 15th to determine continuation or cancellation for the next school year. When the Principal is not able to make a determination, the Pastor is asked to do so.
All sign-up sheets are turned into the St. Peter’s PTC to be logged in. Parents can pick up these sheets in the school offices or download them from our website. When hours worked are in dispute, the PTC board evaluates any request when submitted in writing. If a decision cannot be reached, the Principal decides the matter.
Each family is notified in early January of their accumulated service hours to facilitate verification. Families are notified again in April if they have not completed their hours. Families who have completed their hours receive no notice. Those families who have not met their requirement of 20 service hours by April 15th are given a list of possible activities to help them complete their hours. Families who have earned “extra hours” cannot ‘roll over’ these hours for the next school year; donations of items are not accepted in lieu of service. If a parent(s) accepts a payment for any service, they can not use that as any part of their family service obligation.
The following commitments are included in the minimum required hours for each family:
•Attendance at a general PTC Meeting (1 hr.)
•All committee, sub-committee and planning meetings (1 hr.) *approved committees only (see list below)
•Volunteer for work in a Halloween Carnival or Dayosa booth, set-up and clean-up (1 hr. per actual hour worked)
*Please note that attending a class party or contributing food for a party does not count as service hours.
•Arts/Crafts Committee
• Dinner/Dance Auction
•CYO
•Grant Writing Committee, Hospitality Committee, Lunch-services Committee
•Religious Education – volunteer teacher for preparation for the Sacraments
•St. Peter’s School Committees for Special Projects, School Council, PTC
•School Athletics
•Scouting Activities – Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts
•Unity Mass
Service on the following committees requires a great deal of participation and involvement on behalf of parents. Those serving are required to attend school events and participate in the decisions made to enhance the St. Peter’s school environment. Service hours for active participation on these boards are as follows:
•Officers in good standing (per president’s decision) - 20 hrs.
•Board member on committees – 20 hrs.
Non-active members (per president’s decision) – 10 hrs.
•Board member in good standing (per president’s decision) – 20 hrs.
•Coach – 20 hrs.
•Asst. Coach – 10 hrs.
•Team Mom – 5 hrs.
Fund Raisers
Tuition is unable to cover the total cost of the quality education offered at St. Peter’s School. The Parish and School sponsor fund-raisers to raise money for specific projects. St. Peter's Parish and St. Peter's School partner in fund-raisers to limit the number of fundraisers held. The PTC also coordinates a limited number of school fundraisers. It continues to be important for St. Peter’s School parents to support the fund raising efforts of the School so we can ensure quality programs and services for students.
SPIRITUAL & ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Religious Studies
Catholic education is a gift that the Catholic community and parents give to children during their formative years. At St. Peter’s School, we teach virtues and values, respect for the environment, and reverence for all of God's creation. We seek truth and stand witness to truth. We strive to be good citizens of this country and to be bold and passionate disciples of God's kingdom. We offer excellence rooted in Jesus Christ.
The Religious Studies program serves a multifaceted mission: to teach the message of Jesus, to nurture a personal relationship with God, to provide an understanding of our Catholic faith and its traditions, and to build community. Through instruction in Catholic doctrine and scripture, regular participation in the Catholic liturgical experiences, and most importantly with family support, this mission is carried out.
The specific objectives of our religious studies are:
Message: Through the light of instruction in the basic doctrine of our Catholic faith, the study of sacred scripture, the sacramental life and the moral life, we deepen our awareness and knowledge of who God is.
Community: Through interaction in a loving, worshiping community, we are led to a greater awareness of how God acts in our lives and we are helped to deepen and strengthen our relationship with God and one another.
Service: Through involvement in acts of loving service to one another and the community, we strive to imitate the actions of Jesus, the early Christian community, the saints and the contemporary Christian leaders.
Liturgy
Students at St. Peter's attend liturgy each week, generally Friday morning. Students help plan, attend and participate in a Prayer Service, Morning Prayer or Mass, following the liturgical calendar. Students also attend Mass on the High Feast Days of the Church. Parents and family are welcome to attend these services with their child(ren).
Sacramental Preparation
St. Peter's School partners with St. Peter's Parish for preparation to receive the sacraments of First Eucharist and Reconciliation. Students are prepared for the First Eucharist in second grade and Reconciliation in the fourth grade through the Religious Education Office of St. Peter's Parish. More specific information is given to students preparing to receive the sacraments in September of each school year.
Retreats
St. Peter's School plans a retreat for the 8th graders during the school year. The Parish Youth Ministry Office also plans retreats open to all students during the school year that expand access to understanding of our faith.
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters
Through homeroom/advisory teachers, upper-grade students are paired with lower-grade students in a big brother/sister program. The purpose is to form a bond of Christian friendship and Academic support. Classes generally meet immediately following Prayer Service or Morning Prayer on the first Friday of each month as well as other planned activities.
Student Service Hours
Students in grades 5-8 offer a minimum of 50 service hours to meet graduation requirements for St. Peter's School. The Religious Studies teacher monitors and approves Service Hours. Each class selects a Service Project to devote their time to beginning each August. The following are required but not limited to:
· Grade 5: 5 Hours
· Grade 6: 10 Hours
· Grade 7: 15 Hours
· Grade 8: 20 Hours
Service hours are completed, documented and turned in to the Religion teacher no later than May 1st. Community service documentation forms are available in the religion class or through the Homeroom teachers.
Human Sexuality Education
St. Peter's School provides an education program in family living, human sexuality, AIDS Education, and sexual morality appropriate to the age and maturity of the students according to the guidelines of the Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum Guide and in collaboration with the UTHSC “Worth the Wait” curriculum.
Physical Education
St. Peter’s School participates in the Presidents Challenge Physical Fitness Program. Students, based on their developmental group, are given fitness tests in the fall and spring to complement our complete physical education program. Prior to testing, students are taught the correct techniques for all tests, including proper pacing and running. There is no limit to the number of tries students may have on each of the five events: Curl-ups, Shuttle run, endurance run/walk, pull-ups or push-ups, and v-sit reach.
Technology
With the advances of technology and the corresponding explosion of access to information available, the opportunity exists to provide your child with access to online services at our school. In providing this opportunity for your child to take advantage of the wide range of services and information, we cannot totally block access to the Internet and its subsequent range of materials. Each parent and child needs to be aware of the fact that not all information on the Internet may be accurate or true and is uncensored. The school’s policies, rules and regulations that govern every day behavior and their subsequent consequences also govern behavior on the use of online services. In order for each child to be able to log onto services through the school, parent and child need to read and sign the Acceptable Use Agreement (sent home with students). The agreement covers both rules of usage and etiquette.
St. Peter Prince of Apostles School provides technology resources to its students and staff for educational and administrative purposes. Technology Resources include the intranet, internet access, fax, E-mail, stand-alone computer, and telephone. The goal in providing these resources is to promote educational excellence in St. Peter Prince of Apostles School by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication with the support and supervision of parents, teachers, and support staff. The use of these technology resources is a privilege, not a right.
With access to computers and people all over the world comes the potential availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in context of the school setting. St. Peter Prince of Apostles School firmly believes that the value of information, interaction, and research capabilities available outweighs the possibility that users may obtain material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the school.
Proper behavior, as it relates to the use of computers, is no different than proper behavior in all other aspects of St. Peter Prince of Apostles School activities. All users are expected to use the computers and computer networks in a responsible, ethical, and polite manner. This document is intended to clarify those expectations as they apply to computer and network usage.
Improper use of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School Technology Resources is prohibited. Uses of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School Technology Resources that are prohibited include, but are not limited to the following:
· Users may not use the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School’s private network to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography of any kind), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).
· Users may not post personal information on the Internet about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, school address, work address, pictures or video bites, clips, etc. Users may not post information about other students or the school for any reason. (This rule includes home users who use St. Peter’s name in any form).
· Users may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any other computer system. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files. These actions are improper, even if only for the purposes of "browsing”, “snooping”, or “electronic discovery”.
· Users may not deliberately disrupt or harm hardware or systems, interfere with computer performance, interfere with another’s ability to use equipment and systems, or destroy data. Users may not use the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School’s private network to engage in illegal acts.
· St. Peter Prince of Apostles School systems or resources may not be used for personal gain, or to buy, sell, advertise, or trade any products or services that are not affiliated with School business.
· Users must demonstrate a high standard of care to protect the personal information of others (including home addresses, telephone numbers, or identification information) that is used for School purposes.
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Obligations for use of technology
5. Students will promptly disclose to their teacher or other appropriate school employee any message or information received that is inappropriate.
6. Use of all School technology resources is subject to review, access, and monitoring, even if a private password or other private access code is used. Any use of School resources such as telephones, Internet, e-mail, or other resources is not private and Students/staff and employees should have no expectation of privacy when using such resources for personal use.
As required by law and in recognition of the need to establish a safe and appropriate computing environment, St. Peter Prince of Apostles School will use filtering technology to prohibit access, to the degree possible, to objectionable or unsuitable content that might otherwise be accessible via the Internet.
School personnel provide guidance to the student in internet use and monitor the program to the best of their ability as a regular instructional activity. Controlling all materials on a global network is impossible, and a user may discover inappropriate information or perform inappropriate actions in spite of adult supervision. Therefore, we encourage parents to have a frank discussion with their children about Catholic Christian values and how those beliefs should guide student activities while using the Internet.
School personnel will:
· Teach proper techniques and standards for internet participation.
· Guide student access to appropriate areas of internet.
· Assure that students understand that misuses of the internet could result in loss of access privileges or other privileges.
The student and parent/guardian must sign an Acceptable Use Agreement before the student is given access to the school’s internet resources. School personnel or the parent/guardian may withdraw student internet access at any time.
The parent/guardian is responsible for any damage caused by the student’s inappropriate use of the School’s technology resources.
ACADEMICS
Along with the required core courses, St. Peter's offers a variety of courses that are both challenging and fun. The amount of time spent in each class is determined by TCCED guidelines.
· The Early Childhood Program focuses on beginning skills and socialization through developmentally appropriate techniques.
· The Primary Curriculum provides a strong emphasis on the basics, while giving students a variety of opportunities for hands-on learning.
· The Intermediate Curriculum continues an emphasis on basic skills and increases the level of self-responsibility and expands learning opportunities.
· Students in grades 6-8 are offered electives such as Art, Choir and Spelling Bee. All students are scheduled for Spanish and most students take one Fine Art class.
· A number of after school clubs and opportunities such as Yearbook and Technology Club are also offered.
Progress Reports & Conferences
Progress information is available via RenWeb throughout the School year. Teachers are available in the Parish Hall and Cafeteria to discuss student progress the first Wednesday of September & 2nd Wednesday in February from 3:30-6:30 by appointment. Teachers are also available by appointment at any time through out the year.
Report Cards and Grading Periods
St. Peter's School follows the Archdiocesan nine weeks grading period schedule. See our calendar for dates.
Numerical grades are used from second grade through eighth grade.
The following grading key is used for K3 and K4:
C Consistently
O Occasionally
Y Yet to be observed
The following grading scale is used for 5K and 1st grade:
E Exceptional
V VERY GOOD PROGRESS
G GOOD PROGRESS
L LIMITED PROGRESS
Grades 2through 8 use the following evaluation keys:
94 –100 EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH ACHIEVEMENT
85 - 93.9 HIGH ACHIEVEMENT
75 - 84. AVERAGE ACHIEVEMENT
70 - 74.0 LOW ACHIEVEMENT
0 - 69.9 DID NOT MASTER MATERIAL
The following codes are used for Conduct and for certain subjects:
O OUTSTANDING EFFORT
S SATISFACTORY EFFORT
I IMPROVEMENT NEEDED
U UNSATISFACTORY EFFORT
N NOT OBSERVED
How to schedule a conference with a teacher
· Send a note to your child’s teacher requesting a conference suggesting a time and day; give a reason for conference so the teacher can be prepared, provide a phone number where you can be reached in case the time you gave is not convenient for the teacher.
· Call the school office to request a conference with a teacher. The message is given to the teacher. The teacher will either set up the conference time or the secretary will return your call giving a time and day.
· Email your child’s teacher requesting a conference.
Voicemail
St. Peter’s uses a voicemail system to enhance communication between parent and school personnel. Voicemail is not used to leave messages that teachers need to respond to during the same school day; if a message is not returned within 24 hours, please call the administration office. Teachers can also be reached via email through the RenWeb system which is linked through our website at www.stpeterprince.org.
Lost Report Card/Envelopes
Report cards are issued and sent home to parents in an envelope. This envelope is