St. Mary's New Families

Each school day at St. Mary’s begins with a morning assembly and devotion. This is a special time for us to gather and share our faith. We value this time and expect all students to participate in this important part of our day.

Supervision for the YMCA's Before School Care begins at 7:00 am. There is a fee for this service. Students enrolled in the YMCA’s Before School Care program may arrive starting at 7:00 am.
Supervision for the Breakfast Program begins at 7:30 am. There is a $1.05 charge for breakfast. Students who are eating breakfast may arrive starting at 7:30 am.
Supervisionupervision before Morning Assembly begins at 7:40 am. All other students may arrive starting at 7:40 am.

STUDENTS MUST BE SEATED for assembly by the 8:00 bell or they will be marked TARDY.

Students who require supervision before 7:30 am must be enrolled in the Before School program.

Students arriving between 7:30 and 7:40 am will be served breakfast and charged accordingly.

Starting at 7:40 , students may gather quietly in the school gym and sit in the bleachers with their class. Parents are always welcome to join us.

Tardiness
Success in school is related to punctuality and regular attendance. Habitual tardiness is impolite and sends a negative message to our children. Please be considerate by being punctual.

Our school day begins promptly at 8:00 am with Morning Assembly. Students must be seated in the gym by the 8:00 bell or they will be marked tardy. Students arriving after the 8:00 bell will wait enter the gym quietly and sit on the end of the bleachers with their class.

Students who arrive after 8:15 am must be accompanied to the office by an adult and must be signed in before going to class.

Dismissal
Once a regular routine for dismissal has been established, you must send a note to the school office and the teacher if there is any change in the routine.Examples include: a change in car pool arrangements, spending the afternoon with a friend, a change in door dismissal assignments, staying after school for a special activity.

Students will be dismissed from 3 doors. Door assignments are made by the first letter of the last name:

Jackson Street is designated as NO PARKING on school days. It may only be used to pick up children. The Bloomington Police Department may issue tickets for standing or parking on Jackson Street for any extended period of time.

Other than the parent/guardian, students will only be released to adults with written permission. If you want your child released to someone on a regular basis, please record their name on your family’s Emergency Card. For limited occurrences, a note must be sent to school on the day of the occurrence.

Please maintain a steady flow through the parking lot at dismissal time. If your child is delayed, you may be requested to circle around the parking lot rather than block traffic. If you must leave your car, please park in a designated parking space.

Sign In & Sign Out
Every adult entering St. Mary's School must sign in at the school office upon arrival and sign out upon departure. This is critical for the safety and security of everyone at St. Mary's School.

Any child arriving after 8:15 am or leaving before regular dismissal hours must be signed in/out in the office by the adult responsible for them. This ensures that the child is accounted for in our daily attendance and lunch count and in the event of emergency.

Absences
Parents are asked to contact the school office by phone between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM to advise the school of the nature of the absence. A note of explanation directed to the teacher should accompany the returning student.

Students who are absent due to illness during the school day are not to participate or attend any school sponsored activities the day of the illness. If you would like to pick up school work at the end of the day or have it sent home with another student, please let us know.

For a planned absence, please send a written note to the child's teacher as soon as you know your child will miss school. Also indicate if you intend to pick up the child's homework prior to the date of the absence.

3. Medical/dental appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours.

Make - up work
All grades are entered as ‘incomplete’ until the work is completed satisfactorily.

Homework and schoolwork for students who were given EXCUSED absences will be fully credited, if made up within a limitation of not more than the time missed through absences. For example, a student who missed two days with excused absence must turn in all work no later than 8:00 am at the beginning of the third day back at school.

Homework and schoolwork missed during an UNEXCUSED absence must also be made up; however, the teacher will reduce earned grade by one letter grade.

Before and After School Care
Before and After School Care will be provided by the YWCA for students in grades K - 6. Before School Care is located at Irving School . After School Care is located at St. Mary's and begins at 3:00 p.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m. Both programs are optional services, and parents are charged fees for the days that their children attend.

For the safety of all students, children who must arrive at school prior to 7:40 a.m. or remain on St. Mary's grounds after 3:15 p.m. , unless under the direct supervision of a teacher, coach or club sponsor, must attend Before or After School Care.

Students who participate in the YWCA Before/After School Care Program may not leave the area designated for Before/After School Care without permission.

Study Hour
Students who remain at school after 3:15 pm and are not enrolled in the YMCA’s After School Care Program will be assigned to Study Hour. Study Hour is supervised by a teacher and runs from 3:15 to 4:15 pm . The fee is $3.00 per day for each student, regardless of the amount of time the student is in attendance. Fees should be paid directly to the supervising teacher. Fees not paid to the teacher will be added to your school account at the end of each quarter. The clocks in each classroom are set by a satellite and will be used to determine the correct time.

STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT PICKED UP FROM STUDY HOUR BY 4:15 WILL BE ASSESSED A LATE FEE OF $5.00 PER CHILD

Parents who need regular after school care are encouraged to enroll in the YMCA After School Program. Study Hour is not intended to serve as child care. It is a time for students to study in a quiet environment with the supervision and support of a teacher.

Cafeteria
St. Mary’s has a hot lunch program provided by District 87. Hot lunch may be purchased for $2.30, which includes milk. Applications for free or reduced lunch are available in the office. Hot lunches must be purchased in advance and the money will be credited to the child’s account. Lunch count is taken on a daily basis and money is deducted accordingly. When your hot lunch account is getting low, the family will be notified. When a negative balance is reached, the parent will be contacted and requested to bring a lunch for the child.

Cold lunches will be stored in a designated area in the classroom until lunchtime. Please make sure lunch containers are clearly marked and recognized by the student. Students are not permitted to use the microwave so please do not send food that needs to be heated. Students may bring their own drinks or may purchase milk for $.30. Drinks brought to school may not be carbonated.

Healthy snacks may be available for an additional charge. Students are limited to one extra snack per day. Snacks are an extra offering and may not be available on all days.

If a student does not bring a lunch to school, a hot lunch will automatically be ordered for that child and charged to their lunch account.

Lunch time is considered part of the school day and the lunch area is an extension of the classroom. All rules of behavior and conduct apply. Basic lunchroom rules are posted in the cafeteria. Students will sit in the seat designated by the cafeteria supervisor. Students are expected to use their best table manners and are expected to stay in their seats until they are dismissed by the supervisor. Should a student need to leave their seat, he/she will raise their hand and wait for the supervisor to give permission to get up. Once everyone is seated, a short period of silence will be observed to encourage children to eat. At the end of the silent period, children will be permitted to visit quietly with those at their table while they finish their lunch. Occasionally, students may earn the opportunity to select their own seats based upon positive conduct.

Parents, grandparents, and siblings are always welcome to join their student for lunch. Adult guests may purchase a hot lunch for $2.50 and child guest for $2.30 or bring their own lunch. If you are purchasing a hot lunch, please notify the office by 9 am so a lunch can be ordered for you. You may pay the office when you arrive.

Parents may earn service hours by volunteering to help supervise the cafeteria. Please contact the school secretary, if interested.

Gymnasium
The gymnasium at St. Mary’s is the first area visitors and guests see as they enter our school. Please show your pride in St. Mary’s by following these rules.

Food, drink and gum are not permitted in the gymnasium at any time, including sporting events. Food and drink must be consumed in the cafeteria area. Gum is not permitted in the building at any time.
The balcony located above the bleachers is off limits to everyone, except authorized personnel. Students are not permitted to hang on or climb the ladder leading to the balcony.
The curtain located on the stage should remain closed at all times with the exception of special performances and athletic events. The heating and cooling system is designed to work most efficiently with the curtains closed. Students are not permitted to operate the curtains without permission from the principal or parish staff. Students should not play with the curtains.
Do not jump off the stage to the gym floor. Please use the stairs.
The newer halogen lights are to be used for all activities. These lights take several minutes to warm up and perform at capacity. Please be patient. The smaller, older lights come on instantly, but use a great deal of electricity and should not be used without permission from the principal or parish staff.
The storage area under the stage is off limits to students. Doors should remain closed and locked at all times.
Do not kick balls at the lights, speakers, banners, or at other items hanging in the gym. You will be held responsible for intentional damage.

Playground Regulations
The following are intended to protect the health and safety of the students:

Students will not throw rocks, snowballs, ice balls, etc.
The playground equipment is to be used only for the purpose for which it was designed. Abuse of the equipment will result in loss of the privilege to use equipment for a period of time.
No contact sports are allowed on the playground, i.e. tackle football. The playground supervisor may deem any game “off limits” if it is too rough or likely to cause injury.
Students are not to enter the building without permission from the playground supervisor. After receiving permission, the student should notify the playground supervisor upon returning to the playground.
Absolutely no fighting will be tolerated.
All students will immediately stop playing when the supervisor blows the whistle or indicates the end of recess.
The supervisor is responsible for the conduct of play under their supervision. Supervisors may enforce more stringent rules than those outlined here.
Golf balls, baseballs, roller skates/blades, and skateboards are not acceptable for playground use, and no bombardment games are allowed unless sponge or Nerf balls are used. Bats are not allowed.
Students will remain in an assigned area of play.
Students may not enter or cross Jackson Street or enter the parking lot to retrieve balls or other items without first asking the playground supervisor for permission.

Bicycles
Students should abide by the bicycle safety rules of the road or they will not be allowed to ride their bicycles to school. To avoid accidents, pupils are not to ride bicycles in front of the school or on the playground area. They are to be walked. Only one rider is permitted on a bicycle. All bicycles are to be securely locked. The school does not assume responsibility for bicycles on school property.

Roller blades, scooters, skateboards, and roller skates are not permitted in the school building or playground area except when used for pre-approved programs.

Field Trips
Field trips are well planned and correlated to teaching activities or the school’s mission. All field trips are planned by the teacher and approved by the principal. Parents will be advised of the date and nature of a field trip in advance. Field trips are an enhancement to the school experience and are a privilege, not a right. Any student may be removed from attendance on a field trip due to inappropriate behavior, ineligible grades, etc.

Parents and guardians must sign and return permission forms and any fees by the deadline, if students are to participate in field trips. Late permission slips may not be accepted. Teachers make arrangements for a specific number of children and late permission slips put an undue burden on teachers. Students who do not return their permission forms and fees on time will be assigned to another classroom or to a supervised study hall in place of the trip. Telephone calls will not be accepted for permission. Per diocesan policy, all permissions must be in writing and will be kept on file for a period of 4 years. A blank permission slip is included in the addendum for your convenience.

Parent volunteers frequently provide transportation by private vehicle for the field trip. Parents are responsible for complying with the seatbelt law by providing booster seats for children less than 80 pounds.

Chaperones and Volunteers
Chaperones and volunteers must sign in and out at the office. Students are expected to treat all chaperones, volunteers and visitors with respect.

Chaperones and volunteers are responsible for the safety and well-being of their assigned students and serve as monitors of appropriate behavior. All chaperones and volunteers must agree to the Volunteer Code of Conduct and must have on file a background check through DCFS (CANTS), Illinois State Police (Fingerprints), and have attended the “Protecting God’s Children for Adults” class through the VIRTUS Program offered through the Peoria Diocese.

Chaperones providing transportation to students must complete a Driver Declaration/Information Sheet and provide a current copy of their driver’s license and a copy of their automobile insurance card to the office prior to the trip.

Lost and Found
Please label all items sent to school with the student's name and grade. Annually, the school office accumulates large quantities of items, mainly clothing, that are brought to the office and never claimed. Many items are in perfect condition and are costly to replace. Parents and students are encouraged to look through the Lost and Found for items that belong to them. Unclaimed items will be donated to a charitable organization on a quarterly basis.

School Cancellation
Local public and non-public school administrators have agreed to cooperative operational procedures during winter months. Therefore the following points are used as a basis for canceling or adjusting the school day:

WHEN THERE ARE CANCELLATIONS OR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SCHOOL DAY, THE PRIMARY MODE OF COMMUNICATION USED BY ST. MARY’S WILL BE: WJBC RADIO AM 1230 and WBNQ FM 101.5.

In additions, we will post a message on our school website and activate the School Reach message calling system. Information is also posted by WJBC at: http://www.wjbc.com/wjbc-cancellations.htm

Please DO NOT CALL the school or the radio station to ask about cancellations. The office staff will be busy preparing for the school closing and such calls are very disruptive to this process. You can help by listening to the radio, checking the websites, and making sure your phone line is available for the School Reach phone call.

Attendance Procedures and Policies