St. Mary's New Families

Each school day at St. Mary’s begins with morning praise, prayer and announcements. This is a special time for us to gather, share and celebrate our faith. We value this time and expect all students to participate in this important part of our day . Parents are always welcome to join us for this gathering in the gym which begins at 7:45 am.

For their safety, students must not be left at school before 7:30 am unless they are entering the building for breakfast at 7:20 am . Supervision for students who are not eating breakfast does not begin until 7:30 am . Students arriving before 7:30 am will be served breakfast and will be charged accordingly. At 7:30 , students who are not eating breakfast may gather quietly in the school gym and sit in the bleachers with their class until morning prayer begins at 7:45 .

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.

The first bell will ring at 7:30 am . This bell is to alert students that they may enter the building and have 15 minutes before morning gathering begins. Our school day begins promptly at 7:45 am with Morning Praise and Prayer. STUDENTS MUST BE SEATED for this assembly by the 7:45 bell or they will be marked TARDY. Students arriving after the 7:45 bell should enter the gym quietly and sit on the end of the bleachers with their class.

Students who arrive after 8:00 am must be accompanied to the office by an adult and must be signed in before going to class.

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. 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. Special arrangements for multiple family carpools should be made through the office with a written note.

Jackson Street is designated as NO PARKINGon school days. It may only be used to pick up children. The Bloomington Police Department will issue tickets for parking on Jackson Street .

Maintain a steady flow through the parking lot at dismissal time. If your student is delayed, you may be requested to circle around the parking lot so traffic can flow. If you must leave your car, please park in a designated parking space.

DO NOT park in the No Parking area along the gym wall. DO NOT block traffic. WATCH for small children.

Students who are not picked up by 3:15 and are not enrolled in After Care will be assigned to Study Hour. A fee of $5.00 per child with a maximum of $10 per family will be charged for this supervision.

Sign In & Sign Out

Any child arriving after 8:00 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, lunch count, and in the event of emergency.

If your student will arrive after 9:00 a.m. , please call the school office to let us know and if needed, to order a hot lunch. Hot lunches may not be ordered after 9:00 a.m. If you do not call for a hot lunch, your child will need to bring a cold lunch.

Absences

Parents are required to call the school office before 8:30 am to notify the school and provide a reason for the student’s absence. For calls made before 7:30 am , please leave a message on the answering machine. School work may be requested for pick up at the end of the school day.

Students who are absent or who leave school early because of illness may not participate in or attend any school sponsored activities the remainder of that day. This includes sporting events, student clubs, concerts and other special gatherings.

For a planned absence, please send a written note to the student’s teacher as soon as you know your student will miss school. Be sure to read the previously covered policies on Excused/Unexcused Absences and Make-Up Work Due to Excused Absences, it is found in Academic Policies.

St. Mary’s School encourages punctual and faithful student attendance, but we understand that on occasion there may be circumstances which cause tardiness or absence. Students who have no more that 3 combined absent and/or tardy days may receive an award for Faithful Attendance at the end of the school year.

Before and After School Care

For the safety of all students, children who must remain on St. Mary’s grounds after 3:15 p.m. , unless under the direct supervision of a teacher, coach or club sponsor, must enroll in the YMCA’s School Care Program. After School Care is available at St. Mary’s School and provided through the YMCA’s Y-Pals Program. Care is available for all students from

PreK 4 – 8 th grade. After School Care begins at 3:00 pm and ends at 5:30 pm . This is an optional service, and parents are charged fees for the days that their children attend. Please contact the YMCA for details. (For care at St. Mary’s, make sure you contact the YMCA, not the YWCA.) There is no After School Care at St. Mary’s on early dismissal days and days when school is not in session.

Homework Hour

The purpose of Homework Hour is to provide time for students to complete homework in a quiet setting. Homework Hour is not for child care. If you need occasional care after school, the YMCA After School Care program offers hourly rates.

Homework Hour is supervised by a teacher or aide and runs Monday – Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15 pm . The fee is $5.00 per day for one student and $10 per day for 2 or more students from one family, regardless of the amount of time the student is in attendance. Fees should be paid directly to the supervising teacher.

STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT PICKED UP FROM STUDY HOUR BY 4:15 WILL BE ASSESSED AN ADDITIONAL LATE FEE OF $5.00 PER CHILD. The clocks in each classroom and in the office are automatically set by satellite and will be used to determine the correct time.

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:

Any day that District 87, Unit 5, or CCHS cancels school IN THE MORNING BEFORE SCHOOL due to weather conditions, St. Mary’s will also remain closed.
Once students are in school, St. Mary’s will make every effort to avoid early dismissal; however, student safety is always our primary concern.
During inclement weather, parents are encouraged to consider their individual circumstances and to do what they feel is in the best interest of their student. Parents who are uncomfortable waiting until the end of the school day are encouraged to pick up their student early.
When CCHS dismisses early, due to weather, high school drivers who are responsible for transporting younger siblings should immediately pick up their younger siblings.
On rare occasions, St. Mary’s may independently cancel classes due to heat plant difficulties or based on independent judgment of weather conditions.

When there are cancellations or adjustments to the school day, the primary mode of communication will be WJBC RADIO AM 1230 and WBNQ FM 101.5. In addition, we will post a message on our school website at www.stmarysschool.net and activate the School Reach calling system. Information is also posted by WJBC at: http://www.wjbc.com/wjbc-cancellations.htm

DO NOT CALLTHE SCHOOLTO ASK IF WE ARE DISMISSING EARLY. Listen to the radio or check the school website. If we are closing early, the office staff are busy preparing for the school closing and such calls are very disruptive to this process. On days when school is cancelled, ALL after school activities are also cancelled.

Cafeteria

St. Mary’s has a breakfast and lunch program catered through District 87. Menus are distributed with our weekly newsletter and are posted near the office.

Money for meals must be deposited into your family meal account in advance. Students will not be permitted to run a negative balance. Notices of low account balances are sent in our weekly newsletter. Once a negative balance is reached, the student will call the parent to bring a lunch or deposit more funds.

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 may bring their own drinks or may purchase milk. Drinks brought to school may not be carbonated. If a student does not bring a lunch to school and the parent is not available to bring a lunch, a hot lunch will be ordered for that student and charged to the family meal account.

Students in 5 th – 8 th grades have access to 2 microwaves at lunch. These microwaves are only for re-heating food, not for cooking food from a raw or frozen state. Students are expected to follow all rules posted on the microwaves. Unsafe behavior will result in removal of this privilege.

As part of the Federal School lunch program, applications for free or reduced breakfast and lunch are available in the office.

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 students to eat. At the end of the silent period, students 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. Guests may purchase a hot lunch or bring their own lunch. If you are purchasing a hot lunch, please notify the office by 9:00 am to order a lunch. You may pay the office when you arrive and sign in.

Parents may earn service hours by volunteering to help supervise in the cafeteria and at lunch recess. Please contact the school secretary for details.

Students will usually go outdoors for recess unless one of the following conditions is present: rain, standing water on the black top area, ice or snow on the black top area, wind chill is below 20 degrees.

Students are expected to dress for the weather. In cold weather, students should bring a heavy coat, hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf. Girls wear pants under their skirt during recess. Students may wear boots for recess and then change back to shoes after recess.

A parent may request that their student remain indoors for recess for up to three days by sending a note to the child’s teacher. After 3 days, a doctor’s note is required.

Gymnasium Rules
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.

Recess Rules
The following are intended to protect the health and safety of the students:

Students will remain in the assigned area of play and will not leave without permission from the recess supervisor. Students will notify the recess supervisor upon returning to the play area.
Playground equipment is to be used only for the purpose for which it is designed. Students should not climb on the outside of the playground equipment. Abuse of the equipment will result in loss of the privilege to use the equipment for a period of time.
Students will immediately stop playing when the supervisor blows the whistle or indicates the end of recess.
Students will not throw objects such as sticks, rocks, snowballs, ice, etc.
Contact sports are not allowed on the playground. ex. tackle football
Arguments that cannot be solved by the students should be brought to the attention of the supervisor for mediation.
Fighting will not be tolerated.
The supervisor is responsible for the conduct of play under their supervision. The recess supervisor may deem any game “off limits” if it is too rough or likely to cause injury. Supervisors may enforce more stringent rules than those outlined here.
Hard balls, bats, roller skates/blades, skateboards and scooters are not acceptable for playground use. Bombardment games are only allowed when sponge or Nerf-type balls are used.
Students may not enter any street or parking lot without first asking the recess 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.

Lost and Found
Items that are found are turned in to the office. 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.

Emergency drills are periodically conducted in the building. Students are to remain calm, quiet and obedient during all drills and actual emergencies. Visitors and volunteers are expected to follow all directions provided by staff. For fire drills, all occupants will exit the classrooms through the exterior doors and clear the building and area to a safe distance. In the case of tornado drills and alerts, all occupants move without delay to the basement area of the new addition or to the restrooms in the new addition. An updated emergency preparedness plan is available in the office.

In a situation where the school must be evacuated, students will be relocated to St. Mary’s Church. In a situation where we must leave the immediate area, students will be relocated to a safe location designated by emergency authorities. In this situation, the School Reach phone messaging system will be activated to provide parents with information.

Parents are responsible for informing St. Mary’s of custody issues; however, St. Mary’s employees will not become involved in custody issues including visitation rights. If a situation arises in which a parent defies a custody agreement, visitation schedule or protective order, we will make every effort to contact the custodial parent and/or local police. The Bloomington Police Department should have information about Orders of Protection and enforcement of those orders.

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.

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.

In order to participate in a field trip, parents and guardians must sign and return permission forms and any fees by the deadline. Late permission slips will not be accepted. Per diocesan policy, all permissions must be in writing and will be kept on file for a period of 4 years. Telephone calls will not be accepted for permission. A blank permission slip is included in the addendum for your convenience. 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. When an all school field trip is planned and a student does not have permission to attend, it will be the parent’s responsibility to pick up the student prior to the trip.

Private vehicles are frequently used for transportation to field trips. Parents are responsible for complying with Illinois Law by providing a booster seat for their child, if the child is less than 80 pounds. If you do not provide a booster seat, your child will not be permitted to ride in a private vehicle.

Students are expected to be on their best behavior and follow all instructions given by the adult in charge. Students are expected to treat all chaperones, volunteers and other visitors with respect. Only St. Mary’s students may attend field trips. Younger siblings are not permitted on field trips.

Field trips are by invitation only. Parents are only permitted to attend a field trip as a driver or chaperone and only at the invitation of the teacher planning the trip. The teacher will submit a list of chaperones and drivers to the school office so that compliance with background checks and paperwork may be verified. Parents should not “drop in” on a field trip. The teacher is unable to check the parent’s compliance with background checks and paperwork from the field trip site. In addition, many field trips have a limited capacity and drop in’s put the teacher in an awkward position with the field trip host.

Parent Chaperones and Volunteers

Chaperones and volunteers must sign in and out at the office. Chaperones and volunteers are responsible for the safety and well-being of their assigned students and serve as monitors of appropriate behavior. Should a discipline situation arise, chaperones and volunteers should report the incident to the teacher at the first available opportunity.

Volunteer Code of Conduct
Background check through DCFS (CANTS)
Background check through the Illinois State Police (Fingerprints)
Proof of completion of an approved Diocesan Child Abuse Prevention Program
- Protecting God’s Children for Adults - VIRTUS Program. https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/
- Safe Environments Training

Prior to each trip, Chaperones providing transportation to students must provide:

School Policies & Procedures