Attendance

Regular school attendance is required by law. To make satisfactory progress in school, each child will attend school daily unless sickness, severe weather or other emergency arises. Parents will be contacted if verification is deemed necessary for any of the below:

School Arrival

Grades 6-8 students should arrive no earlier than 7:55 a.m. Grades K-5 students should arrive no earlier than 8:25 a.m. unless they are in the Before School Program (which begins at 7:00 a.m.).

School Departure

After school the building and grounds should be cleared within ten minutes. School is dismissed at 2:45 (1:45 on Mondays), and students are instructed to go home as soon as possible unless they are participating in the After School Program. Parents are requested to pick their children up no later than 2:55 p.m. (1:55 p.m. on Mondays), unless they are participating in the After School Program.

Inclement Weather

When inclement weather makes it necessary to close school, parents will receive notice by radio and television stations: KING, KIRO, KOMO. Please listen to early broadcasts between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m.

Dress and Physical Appearance

1. The school uniform will be worn at all times, with the exception of free dress days.
2. Grades K-5 girls uniform consist of: White, navy or red polo shirt, or white peter pan collar blouse, or a white, or navy turtle neck shirt, red cardigan, v-neck pullover or vest, and appropriate jumper/skort, navy twill or corduroy pants; Grades 3-5 may wear the skirt, or optional navy walking shorts. Appropriate color socks or tights must be worn (no leggings or spandex). All shirts will be tucked in at all times and no sagging pants.
3. Grades 6-8 girls uniform consist of: White, navy or red polo shirt, or a white or navy turtle neck shirt, navy blue v-neck cardigan, pullover, vest or sweatshirt/fleece vest with school logo, dark khaki skirt, or dark khaki twill pleated slacks or dark khaki twill walking shorts. All shirts will be tucked in at all times and no sagging pants.
4. Grades K-5 boys uniform consist of: White, navy or red polo shirt, or a white or navy turtle neck shirt, red v-neck pullover or vest, or cardigan and navy blue twill or corduroy pants, or navy blue walking shorts. All shirts will be tucked in all times and no sagging pants.
5. Grades 6-8 boys uniform consist of: White, navy or red polo shirt, or a white or navy turtle neck shirt, dark khaki twill pleated pants or dark khaki twill walking shorts. All shirts will be tucked in at all times and no sagging pants.
6. Hair will be neatly combed (no hair rollers or scarves allowed), and uniforms will be clean. Coats and hats will not be worn in the building.
7. Gym wear for physical education will consist of: Tennis shoes, white socks, shorts, (no cut-off jeans or spandex), an appropriate t-shirt (other than school shirt or blouse) or St. Therese uniform sweats can be worn on P.E. days only, in lieu of the regular uniform, for middle school on Tuesdays or Thursdays only.

NOTE: GUM CHEWING: For custodial reasons and proper etiquette training, gum is forbidden on the school grounds. A fine will be assessed when this policy is ignored, and monies will go to a charity. The fine will be $1.00 for the first occurrence and will increase in increments of $1.00 for each day not paid.

Health

1. The parent has the final responsibility for the health of the student. The school will provide guidance on health matters if requested or if in the judgment of the principal, it is necessary for the child?s educational well-being. Any child who has to bring or take medication during the day, the parent must notify the school in writing about this matter and fill out a medical form signed by a doctor and parent. Specific instructions should accompany the medication.
2. A child who is taken ill or is injured during the school day shall be looked at by the principal (or designated person) to determine if the child should be sent home or taken to a doctor. Parents will be notified, and if this is not possible, the emergency number will be called. Emergency health cards in the office must be kept up-to-date.
3. The administration of medications at school is not allowed except for special cases upon written request of parents and private physician and approved by the principal. This includes non-aspirin.
4. Immunization records are required by law for all students. If all immunization requirements are not fulfilled the student will be dismissed.

Student Progress Reports

1. Parents should be aware at all times of their child?s progress. The methods used by St. Therese School in reporting to parents are by: phone calls, e-mail, weekly progress reports, report cards and parent-teacher-conferences.
2. At the end of the first trimester, mandatory conferences will be scheduled. Report cards will be given to the parents at the conference.
3. At the end of the second trimester, conferences will be scheduled at the request of the teacher or parent. If a child is in danger of retention, parents will be advised of the situation at this time. Report cards will either be given at this conference or sent home with the student.
4. Parents are required to send back report cards within a week of their distribution.
5. Parents are encouraged to confer with their child?s teacher whenever the need arises. Arrangements for special conferences are made through the school office. The teacher will contact the parent to set a time. The principal is also available for conferences.
6. All Middle School students will receive a progress report every Friday.
   Please remember to check EDLINE.

Homework

1. Homework is given at the discretion of the teacher. Work taken home will be in the form of reinforcement of previously taught concepts or for enrichment.
2. When homework is given, we ask the cooperation of parents in seeing that students are given adequate time and a conducive environment in which to do it. Please do not do the homework for your child.
3. Students returning from an absence are to initiate the procedure for finding out work they need to make up. It is the responsibility of the student to ask for assignments he/she has missed. When a child is absent for an extended length of time, parents should make arrangements with the teacher for work to be sent home.
4. Middle school students turning in late projects (not because of illness) will receive reduced credit.

Extra-Curricular Activities

When learning is genuinely effective, it extends itself outside the confines of the classroom. Extended activities beyond the classroom are encouraged as they do much toward the total development of the student. Participation in tutoring other students, student council, school sports programs, and community service, we strongly support.
When in the judgment of the teacher, this participation is interfering with school work, parents will be notified, and arrangements made to limit participation.

Transfers or Withdrawals

The school office should be contacted immediately upon a decision to transfer (or withdraw) a student from St. Therese School. Records will be forwarded to the school when requested if all financial obligations are taken care of. Registration fee and any tuition payments made will not be refunded. (If entire tuition has been paid and student withdraws, see tuition policy for refunds.)

Communication Envelope

Newsletter, calendars, notices, etc. go home through the Wednesday Parent Envelope which is sent home with youngest child. Parents will sign the envelope next to the appropriate date and return to the school by Thursday morning. Parents should be sure that their responses, signatures, etc., are complete and that contents necessary for return are sent back through the envelope to the school. Please do not send tuition payments in the Parent envelope.

School Telephone

The telephone in the school office is used for school business. Student use of the school phone is limited to emergencies. Emergency needs do not include asking parents to bring forgotten items to school, asking permission to go to a friend?s house, etc.

School Property

Students are expected to grow in their understanding that school property is for their use and is entitled to reasonable care. Carelessness on the part of any student, which results in damage, will be the responsibility of that student?s parents. This includes the school building and grounds as well as its contents. The total cost of replacing a book will be charged for any book that is lost or abused.

Personal Property

Students should leave all personal valuables at home, such as radios, CD players, and recorders. Permission may be granted to bring a personal item, but it is the student?s responsibility to make arrangements with teacher in advance. For safety reasons, we are aware some students have cell phones at school. Students may not use them during the course of the school day. They should be turned into the teacher
or office for safe-keeping, and picked up at the end of the day. If students have to make a call home while at school, they should request to use the office phone.

Fire Drill / Earthquake Drill

There will be a monthly fire drill/earthquake drill conducted by the principal or other designated persons. Students are encouraged to recognize the seriousness of fire danger and are expected to file out of the building quickly and quietly as directed by their homeroom teachers.

Field Trips

1. Field trips and other outside school activities for educational purposes have great value and teachers are encouraged to make use of such activities.
2. Written permission slips must be signed by a parent or guardian for any student to be able to participate. Verbal permission will not be accepted. (A completed permission slip received by FAX is acceptable).
3. All students depart from the school and return to the school.
4. Teachers must make sure parent volunteers stay with the group and act responsibly with the children in their charge.
5. All field trips must have 3 adults per every 8 children in primary and 3 adults per 10 students in middle school. This does not include the teacher.
6. Drivers must drive directly to and from the event. NO stops for treats. Please don?t bring treats for your car pool.

Parties and Events

Classroom parties must be pre-arranged through teachers and room parents. A small treat may be shared to celebrate a child?s birthday, but must be pre-arranged with the teacher. The principal is the final authority for approval of school parties.

Hot Lunch Program

St. Therese School participates in the Wholesome & Delicious Catering. Meals must be purchased in advance ($3.00 per meal). Make checks payable to Wholesome & Delicious Catering. Reduced priced meals $1.50, make check payable to St. Therese School.

Students will:

• Eat their food properly and without waste
• Return trays to proper receiving station
• Keep table, benches, and floors clean
• Be courteous and obey lunchroom supervisors

If these lunchroom codes of conduct are abused, corrective actions and/or consequences will be applied (see page 11).

Library Program

1. The mission of the St. Therese School Library Resource Center is to encourage a love of reading, improve reading proficiency and ensure students are effective users of information and ideas.
2. The Library Resource Center is staffed by a full- time certified teacher-librarian who is assisted by parent volunteers in providing a variety of library services to the students. These include help in developing an appreciation of literature and the ability to select library materials wisely, as well as aid in learning library and research skills and in applying them to real questions. The library collection has 10,000 books and a variety of videos, audiocassettes and CD -ROM?s on many subjects.
3. Students will speak quietly and act respectfully when using the library. They will handle books and other library materials with care and return them when due so that other students may use materials. If the library code of conduct is abused, corrective actions and/or consequences will be applied (see page 11).
4. Overdue notices will be sent to parents on a regular basis (through the communication envelope). Families will be charged for lost or damaged books. Report cards will be held until fines are paid.

Athletic Program

St. Therese Athletic Program exists to provide an opportunity for each child to discover and/or be reassured of their self worth through activities of a recreational nature based on Christian principles that reinforce human and social values.

Our program offers an athletic experience that accommodates youngsters having different levels of physical abilities and aspirations. Students who participate must maintain a weekly GPA of 2.2. If any student has a failing grade (weekly), on their progress report, they will be benched for the upcoming game.

Before/After School Care

St. Therese School has a Before and After School Program available to families needing this service. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Before School care time is from 7:00-8:30 a.m. and After School care, from dismissal time (full days and conference days only) until 6:00 p.m.

Graduation Activities

ALL 8th Grade students who have met all graduation requirements must participate in Graduation activities. This is not optional.