Student Handbook

In an age where Christian values are being questioned, Catholic/Christian schools are needed as much if not more than ever. In the words of the late Cardinal Bernardin regarding the future of Catholic/Christian schools:

* It is imperative that our schools move from being institutions to being communities;

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St. Dorothy School is a Catholic Elementary School, grades pre-k through eight. The school admits children of any race or creed. The purpose of the school is to provide excellence in education within a Christian environment. The program is designed to meet the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, aesthetic, and physical development of each student. The values and lessons of Catholic/Christian life are infused in every academic course and activity at St. Dorothy School.

The St. Dorothy Faculty appreciates children as individuals--unique in their differences and gifts. We work diligently at tailoring the learning environment to meet the academic needs of each student.

We recognize parents as the primary educators of their children. St. Dorothy School joins in partnership with parents in the religious formation and academic development of their children. The first step in a child’s educational development is the home. It is recognized that the principles of Christian life taught in the classroom must be reinforced in the home if we are to achieve success in our institution.

St. Dorothy School's mission is to promote academic excellence, to inspire its students to be lifelong learners, and to possess the skills necessary to compete in a global society. We teach Catholic/Christian values and partner with families to create a spirit of stewardship and service.

St. Dorothy is a distinctively faith-based, relationship-centered educational community, known for its challenging, engaging curriculum and quality of graduates who have distinguished themselves at the secondary, post-secondary, and professional career levels. Integral to St. Dorothy's success and distinction is its clear expression of the ongoing partnership of family and parish and its deeply rooted Catholic identity and Christian formation of students grades Pre-K through eight.

GRADUATE VISION

* Possesses a healthy self-concept and develops a sense of purpose and motivation

* Has an awareness of the world in which she/he lives and gives service to others

St. Dorothy School has as its primary emphasis the spiritual education and development concisely articulated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A strong, well-rounded curriculum, which is fundamentally based in the teaching of the Catholic/Christian faith, is the cornerstone of the academic program. St. Dorothy School has always emphasized spiritual development and academic excellence.

It is one of the goals of this school to implement student centered learning techniques that focus on the development of every child. It is the goal of our educators to stimulate students to maintain high personal standards, to follow cultural pursuits, to think critically and creatively, to value the democratic ideals and processes of our American heritage, to develop spiritually, physically and intellectually and to regard faith formation and education as a life long process. We seek to prepare our students to attend any parochial, private or public high school in the country.

St. Dorothy School is operated under the auspices of the Catholic Bishop of Chicago, a corporation sole, in the Archdiocese of Chicago. St. Dorothy School admits students of any race, color, sex, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students. St. Dorothy does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, athletic, or other school-administered programs.

In employment practices, St. Dorothy School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, unfavorable military discharge, marital status, or mental or physical handicap unrelated to the ability to perform the duties of the position.

ADMISSIONS: St. Dorothy School may admit students who are not Catholic provided that these students will not displace Catholic students and that both students and parents clearly understand that participation in religious instruction and school activities related to the Catholic identity of the school are required.

St. Dorothy School endeavors to educate all students within the limits of the school's educational program. This school, therefore, reserves the right to refuse admittance to any student for whom the school cannot provide an effective instructional program.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 1 THROUGH 8: All students entering St. Dorothy School for the first time must present an official copy of their birth certificate. A copy of a recent medical form, including immunizations; the most recent report card; and standardized test results must be presented at the time of registration along with the required registration fee. Students will not be permitted to attend class until these records have been received by the school. Registration fees are non-refundable.

ADMISSIONS FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN: Registration for Pre-Kindergarten is ongoing. Each student should have a Student Registration form completed. all students entering the Pre-Kindergarten program must have a current physical (see requirements in Medical and Dental requirements section of the handbook). applications received will be considered for admission as space permits. Students entering Pre-Kindergarten must be either 3 or 4 years of age at the time of registration and toilet trained.

ADMISSIONS FOR KINDERGARTEN: Students entering kindergarten are ordinarily five years of age on or before
September 1. Priority of acceptance into Kindergarten is as follows:
    1.   Children of parishioners or current school families;
    2.   Children of families new to St. Dorothy School;
    3.   Children who will be five years of age after September 1 may be conditionally admitted after an interview and testing.

An official copy of the child's birth certificate must be presented at registration along with the registration fee. The registration fee is non-refundable except in cases when the child is not accepted into the Kindergarten program.

TRANSFER STUDENTS, in addition to the Registration Requirements above, must also provide academic records from the school previously attended (such as report cards and standardized test scores). Each transfer student meets with the Principal prior to admission in order to determine an appropriate educational program for each student.

STUDENT RE-ENTRY is ordinarily not permitted; that is, once a student has transferred to another school, that student will ordinarily not be considered to be eligible to attend St. Dorothy School.

STUDENTS WITH UNPAID FEES AND TUITION from the previous year will not be admitted to the next academic year until these obligations have been taken care of.

A parent/guardian has the right to inspect his/her student's permanent record which includes report cards, health records, accident reports, attendance records, biographical information (name, address, and so on), and an Individual Education Plan (IEP), if applicable. The parent/guardian may call the school office to make an appointment for this purpose.

St. Dorothy School abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment with respect to the rights of non-custodial parents. In the absence of a court order to the contrary, St. Dorothy School will provide the non-custodial parent access to academic records and other school-related information regarding the student. If there is a court order specifying that there is to be no information given, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the court order. (See also Transfers/Release of Information.)

The report card is also an official school record. Hand-written report cards are to be done in black ink. (A report card should never go home with "white out" unless initialed by the teacher.) In addition, report cards are to be reviewed by the principal before distribution.

All school reports must be signed by parents or guardians. Faculty members are responsible to ensure that all school reports are returned within five (5) days. An immediate follow-up call is required if school reports are not returned. At the end of the school year, report cards and attendance sheets are filed in the student's cumulative folder.

Faculty must complete all cumulative file information before leaving the school for summer vacation. Teachers are required by contract to be available for work until June 15, which allows sufficient time to complete records.

All faculty and staff should guard against revealing information of a confidential nature, especially test scores and grades. This includes keeping record books out of sight and inaccessible. This is an especially important concern since many of our classrooms are used by other programs and organizations. While students and parents/guardians will not be admitted to faculty classrooms if the teacher is not present, it is still important to safeguard all student records.

Ordinarily a student will be released from school to either parent unless the school has a copy of a court order giving one parent exclusive custody.

St. Dorothy School ordinarily wishes to remain neutral regarding divorce/custody proceedings since we do not believe it is in the best interests of students to bring such home issues into the school. In addition, we do not think it helpful for our students for the school to be put into a position of taking sides with one parent or another. Because of the confidential nature of student records–and our obligation to safeguard them–we will not release student records to a lawyer unless we receive a subpoena requesting such student records.

In order to keep the parent/guardian well informed about school activities, it is recommended that the parent/ guardian become familiar with the Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook and the school calendar. In addition, parent/guardian newsletters and the Family School Association meetings are helpful ways to remain informed about and involved in current issues.

St. Dorothy School welcomes parents/guardians and is interested in arranging formal and informal parent/guardian-teacher conferences. If a teacher is not available when a parent/guardian calls, the teacher will return the parent/guardian call if the necessary phone number is left with the school secretary.

The school office is open from 7:15 am to 3:15 pm on school days to assist you. At other times (twenty-four hours a day everyday), a voicemail message can be left for school personnel. Your call is important to us and will be returned.

It is important that we have your current address, telephone number, work number, and so on, to facilitate ongoing communication (especially in the event of an emergency). Should you move during the school year or change telephone numbers, please notify the school office, preferably in writing, immediately.

Communication between teachers and parents/guardians can strengthen the support and direction provided students in their many and varied learning tasks.

Parent/guardian-teacher-student conferences are held at the end of the first and second marking periods in November and January. If the parent/guardian is not able to attend during these times, he/she is asked to call or send a note to the teacher(s) to arrange another meeting.

The parent/guardian is encouraged to contact the teacher if a problem, misunderstanding, or concern occurs. The parent/guardian should attempt to resolve issues with the student's teacher first. Most concerns can be effectively addressed in this manner.

If the teacher has been contacted and no resolution is achieved, the parent/guardian may contact the Principal to review the issue and resolve the concern.

SCHOOL VISITS: To insure a smooth running and safe school, anyone entering the building for any reason must report to the school office, sign in, and obtain a Visitor's Badge if he/she is going to visit in a classroom. Parents/Visitors will not be allowed to:

LUNCH AND PLAYGROUND VISITS: St. Dorothy School is a closed campus; that is, students are not to leave the building or playground without specific administrative approval.

Similarly, parents are requested not to take students out of school for lunch. Lunch and recess are important parts of the school day when students have the opportunity to develop additional social skills

Ordinarily, parents are not to come to school to have lunch with their students or to visit them on the playground during lunch recess. In this day of increased security and background checks, it is important for the school to strictly limit the access of outside persons to our students. The parent of one student is a stranger to another student.

STANDARDIZED ACHIEVEMENT TESTS are given to students a few times throughout their elementary school education. This is coordinated by the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools.

REPORT CARDS are issued four times per year (approximately every nine weeks of school) and indicate student progress in academic and social areas. The parent/guardian is asked to discuss the report card carefully with their student. Questions should be referred to the student's teacher.

MID-QUARTER PROGRESS REPORTS are sent home to alert the parent/guardian of students who need some additional help to improve.

THE GRADING SCALE used at St. Dorothy School has been established by the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Office.

Students who are experiencing serious academic and/or behavioral problems may be referred to the appropriate agency for possible testing and evaluation. The school administration will work closely with the parents/guardians to assure the integrity of this process. The student, parents/guardians, teachers, school counselor and administration will all play a vital role in the referral process.

The end of each marking period, students who have attained Honor Roll, Effort Award, and Perfect Attendance are announced and students are honored for their achievement(s).

* Honor Roll guidelines for students in Grades 1 through 8 include having all A's and B's and no behavior check marks.

* Effort Award guidelines for students in Grades 1 through 8 acknowledge putting forth much effort to attain grades of C or above with no behavior check marks.

* Perfect Attendance guidelines for students in Pre-k through Grade 8 acknowledge having no excused or unexcused absences or tardies during the marking period.

Regular attendance and punctuality are essential to ensure an effective learning environment and enable students to fully participate in the ongoing educational process. When a student is absent, valuable instructional time is lost and cannot be recovered; interaction of students with faculty and other students is essential to the overall development of the student. Moreover, punctuality forms life habits for work and family, which will benefit the student.

While some absences can be considered excused, such as illness, a doctor/dentist appointment, a funeral, a court appearance, and officially representing the school, students are requested not to miss school unnecessarily. For example, doctors' appointments should be made after school hours.

Parents must call the school office before 8:00 a.m. when a child is absent. If the school is not notified of a child's absence, a call may be placed to the child's home or parent's place of employment to verify the absence.

Students who have twenty (20) or more unexcused absences during the school year may be retained or required to attend remedial summer classes.

Tardiness is a disruption to the learning environment and is a direct violation of the school policy. Being on time is a positive work habit that is expected of St. Dorothy School students. Students are considered tardy if they are not in their classroom by 8:00 A.M.

This policy will be affective for the 2007-2008 school year.
Homeroom teachers will be responsible for supervision the 1/2 hour detention, to be held either before or after school at the teacher's discretion.

All absences due to vacations will be counted towards the student's total number of absences.

It is the student’s responsibility to request missed work from teachers upon return to class. The teacher in consultation with the student will determine appropriate make-up work and timelines for the completion of such work. Missed class discussions, presentations, and collaborative activities and projects cannot be made up.

For multiple reasons, such as teacher in-service meetings, and parent/guardian-teacher conferences, students will occasionally be dismissed early. These dismissal times are indicated in the school calendar. Please consult the school calendar and weekly announcements for these dismissal times.

At 7:45, students will assemble at there designated areas (Pre-K and Kindergarten outside main entrance, 1-8 labeled locations on playground). Students in grades 1-8 are not to assemble in front of the school, they are to go directly to the playground. Any student arriving prior to 7:45 should be enrolled in the before school program (see EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM). St. Dorothy school will not be responsible for students arriving at the school prior to 7:45 that are not in the school as part of the Extended Day Program. The students will wait at their assigned locations until they are picked up by their teacher, or another designated staff member, they are not to leave the school grounds.

Students will enter the building in an orderly fashion; they are considered tardy if they are not seated and ready for class at 8:00 am.

At dismissal, bus students leave the room at the 2:55 Bus Bell and use the North Entrance (East Stairs) to exit and line up in the playground. All other students, including the Extended Day students, line up in the classroom and leave the classroom at the 3:00 pm bell.

Teachers are to accompany their classes outside daily. Supervision of Extended Day students begins at 3:00 pm in the designated meeting area for Extended Day students.

In addition, parents/guardians are asked not to enter the building with their student at 7:45 am in order to confer with their student's teacher. Teachers need to supervise and instruct students at this time; students may not be left unsupervised by teachers for parent/guardian conferences.

Students not picked up by 3:15 pm will be taken to the After-School Program; parents must then go the After-School Program to pick up students (see also EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM and UNSUPERVISED STUDENTS).

St. Dorothy's Extended Day Program provides a safe place where students receive care and attention before school in the mornings (from 6:00 am until 7:45 am) and/or until their parents pick them up after school (from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm).

The Before School Program (from 6:00 am until 7:45 am) is held in the school gym. Students may rest; eat a breakfast brought from home, or study.

The After School Program (from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm) is organized so that students are given time for snacks, study, homework, physical exercise, and activities.

St. Dorothy Extended Day is a self-supporting program that operates under the administration of the school principal. Parents pay for the Extended Day Service and may use the program daily, several times per week, or on occasion. The day-to-day operation is managed by the Extended Day

Students are to be supervised by a designated, responsible adult at all times. Students should not be in the building unsupervised prior to 7:45 am. Also, only students who are participating in the After School Program, a school-sponsored event (such as Drama Club), an athletic event (such as basketball practice), or a scheduled meeting (such as scouts) are to be in the building after school.

Private bus transportation is financed by parents who use the service. The following buses ordinarily provide transportation to and from school for student whose parents contract service with the company:

St. Dorothy School assumes no responsibility related to the performance of these bus companies. Parents with concerns/complaints about service should contact the bus company immediately.

Since Christian values and living are our priority, the habit of daily prayer should be fostered in the classroom. A routine of prayer before class in the morning and again (over the public address system) before dismissal should be followed. Grace before meals should also be said with the students before going to the lunchroom.

Formal prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Act of Contrition, and Glory Be to the Father should be among the prayers that students know. In addition to these, students are to have an opportunity for informal and spontaneous prayer.

An all-school liturgy takes place on a weekly basis and a Family Mass at 10:00 am on the Third Sunday of every month. It is important that teachers practice with scheduled student readers for these Masses. The Eucharistic Liturgy is a focal point for our Catholic/Christian educational community; every effort is to be made to ensure that it is celebrated to the best of our abilities.

Students and their parents/guardians are not permitted in classrooms after school if the teacher is not present. Teachers have confidential material in their rooms (for example, tests, student work products, and student grades). By federal law, students and/or their parents/guardians may not have access to these materials.

Homework is a necessary supplement of regular classroom instruction and provides necessary reinforcement of the curriculum. Homework, which may take the form of reading, studying, creating, collecting data, researching, problem-solving, working with other students, and/or writing, will be given at all grade levels. Teachers at the various grade levels regularly collaborate with each other in order to appropriately and effectively plan this important aspect of the educational process for the greatest benefit for students.

Homework, which provides instructional support and practical experience for students, also joins together the individual roles of parent/guardian, teacher, student, and occasionally other students (for example, during a collaborative project). While the teacher defines the purpose of the homework, assigns reasonable homework with definitive time expectations, and assesses homework in a meaningful manner, the parent/guardian can provide a quiet, well-lit study area, allow for necessary study time, encourage and support the student, and communicate student difficulty to the teacher. Finally, the student's role includes adhering to the teacher's instructions and assuming responsibility for accurate and complete work, positive study habits, and the efficient use of time.

Since parents regularly request advice on helping with homework, the following ideas are offered:

* Parents are essential to making homework a positive experience for their children; they are the ones who can make homework a top priority at home.

* Parents should set a daily routine for students regarding homework. Students should know when they are to do homework and where.

* Parents should provide necessary supplies and a quiet homework environment with outside distractions turned off (e.g., TV) or made unavailable (e.g., telephone calls).

* Students who are not particularly self-motivated should not study alone in their rooms, especially if they are surrounded by possible distractions (for example, a computer, computer games, TV, a telephone, books, and magazines). Not surprisingly, such students would rather engage in e-mailing friends, for example, rather than completing Math problems. These students do better when supervised by an adult in the same or a nearby room.

* Wherever students study, distractions should be kept to a minimum, since most students work well without additional stimuli (for example, TV, radio, CD’s, telephone calls, and so on).

* Students (and parents) should get in the habit of expecting some homework every day. Some subjects such as Language Arts and Mathematics require steady, ongoing practice for maximum achievement; parents can help students understand this and accept the need to progress steadily.

* As the policies below outline, parents are expected to review students’ homework assignment books on a daily basis. Some teachers may require a daily parent signature; some teachers use this medium to send parents important messages. And all students profit from parent interest in their daily work and progress.

* On days when there is no homework, it is recommended that some time be spent reviewing what is being learned in school; even a few minutes spent reviewing spelling or vocabulary words for the week can help students progress academically, as well as increase short and long-term study skills.

* If your student consistently says that he or she completed all the homework in school, please ask to see the completed work. This can also be an opportunity for the parent to show interest in and discuss the material being covered.

* If your student never seems to bring homework home, please let his or her teachers know. Perhaps the student is not being challenged enough. Many interventions ranging from encouraging a student to do some additional reading to having the student prepare a presentation for his/her class can challenge a student to get more involved with his/her learning.

* If your student always seems to have too much homework, please let his/her teachers know right away. Many explanations are possible and should be investigated: the student may not understand the assignment(s), the student may not know how to effectively study; the student may be setting goals that are too high; the material may be too difficult; a tutor may be necessary; and so on.

* Do not allow students to lose sleep doing homework and do not accept their offers to complete it in the morning before school.

* Students should do their homework; not parents. The purpose for homework, as stated above, is to provide students with practice that is essential for acquiring new skills. Students who do not get this practice will fall behind in their ability to complete increasingly complex tasks on their own. On the other hand, many students do better when assisted by parents while doing their homework. Parents can offer guidance and support about how to complete an assignment or how to solve a problem, without actually doing the homework or just providing the answers.

* If you are notified that assignments are not being completed, there should be consequences at home. First, students need to know that you value and support their educational program. Second, a student who receives the same message at school and at home may be more likely to put that message into practice.

* If you or your student have any questions about study skills, how to complete assignments, work being too easy or too difficult, etc., please contact your student’s teachers right away. In a student-centered learning environment, we recognize that the needs of every student are different . . . and we want to work to maximize every student’s learning style, achievement, and success. The more communication that takes place between the school and home, the better we can all “fine tune” a successful educational experience for your student.

Students on IEP's or who have conditions which impair their ability to perform are to be given consideration when homework is assigned. (This is a Christian expectation as well as a federal, state, and Archdiocesan mandate).

Students are expected to record all homework assignments in an assignment book purchased at the beginning of the school year.

Participation in the St. Dorothy School Extra-Curricular Athletic Program is a privilege, not a right. Failure to conform to the personal, academic, and disciplinary standards of the school may be cause to remove a student from participation in the Sports Program.

These sports are offered in the St. Dorothy Athletic Program: Biddy Basketball (K-4 boys/girls); Boys Basketball (Grades 5-8); Girls Basketball (Grades 5-8); Cheerleading (Grades 5-8); and Volleyball (Grades 5-8), when numbers permit. The day-to-day operation of the school's extra-curricular athletic programs is managed by the St. Dorothy School Athletic Organization.

Criteria for eligibility to participate in the St. Dorothy School Athletic Program include

4. Submitting signed agreement in support of the guidelines and policies of the Athletic Program;

6. Submitting a current sports physical or letter from the physician attesting to the student's physical fitness.

An athlete who was absent from class due to illness or suspension may not attend practice or play in a game on the day(s) of absence or suspension.

Probation occurs either (a) when a new 5^th through 8^th grade student is accepted to St. Dorothy School or (b) when a student’s academic or behavioral performance is characterized by a serious lack of responsibility (on the part of the student or parent).

Students in 5^th through 8^th grade who enter St. Dorothy School are admitted on a probationary status, pending their academic and behavioral performance during the first semester of the academic year. If a student fails to perform well either academically or behaviorally, the student may be asked to leave St. Dorothy School at any time during the probationary period.

Any student whose academic or behavioral performance is characterized by a serious lack of responsibility (on the part of the student or parent) may be put on academic or behavioral probation. If there is no improvement regarding the performance of concern, the student may be asked to leave St. Dorothy School at any time during the probationary period.

Promotion and graduation apply to students who complete the academic, attendance, and/or behavioral expectations for their grade level outlined in this handbook (and elsewhere). These students are promoted to the next grade for the next academic year.

Placement applies to students who have not satisfactorily completed the academic, attendance, and behavioral expectations for their grade level outlined in this handbook (and elsewhere), but who, after a period of remediation (such as tutoring), may be able to successfully deal with the increased expectations of the next grade level. These students are, therefore, placed in the next grade level for the next academic year, which means that the assignment to the next grade is on a probationary status, pending their demonstrated ability to successfully meet the academic, attendance, and behavioral expectations for their new grade level outlined in this handbook (and elsewhere). If students who are placed do not appear to be able to meet the expectations for their new grade level, administrative intervention is warranted, during which time students’ academic programs are re-evaluated.

Failure applies to students who have not completed the academic, attendance, and behavioral expectations for their grade level outlined in this handbook (and elsewhere). These students are not promoted to the next grade for the next academic year. The administration, in consultation with the students’ teachers, will determine on a case-by-case basis possible courses of action–which may range from repeating a grade to the recommendation that the student withdraw from St. Dorothy School.

In general, a student must pass all classes each quarter; comply with State, Archdiocesan, and St. Dorothy School attendance policies; and observe the behavioral expectations outlined in this handbook (and elsewhere).

For a parochial school, the primary source of funding is tuition. Since the tuition contributed does not cover the actual cost of educating St. Dorothy School students, it is, therefore, extremely important that all families contribute at the specified tuition rate for their children. And since the tuition collected is used primarily for faculty salaries, it is critical that tuition be contributed in a consistent and timely manner.

Tuition and school fees are collected either quarterly during the months of August, November, January, and March, or monthly. Payments are to be made at the school office. All payments of tuition and school fees must be paid by the published due date.

Any parent/guardian unable to pay tuition or school fees on time must apply for an extension. Extension request forms are available in the school office and should be filled out and returned to the school office before the due date of said tuition. Tuition extensions are granted for a maximum of two weeks beyond the published grace period. During this time, a family unable to meet its contractual financial obligations should make an appointment with the School Board Finance Committee to work out an acceptable payment plan. Students whose families have not requested the extension and whose tuition is not up-to-date will not be allowed to attend school until an acceptable payment plan has been mutually agreed upon.

In order for a student to be registered and begin a new school year, any previous outstanding tuition and fees, and current tuition and fees must be paid in full.

No monies will be collected during announced days prior to beginning the new school year. Therefore, any student not meeting criteria stated in the paragraph above will have to defer attendance until the school office is available to properly and accurately collect tuition, fees, and any other monies due.

Parents who contribute more than $100 to St. Dorothy Church during the calendar year (January 1 to December 31) will have one-half of that total amount credited toward the fourth quarter tuition. A rebate exceeding the amount due will be credited to the next school year if the child returns to St. Dorothy School. Any parent whose child is graduating and whose rebate exceeds the fourth quarter tuition may have the excess amount applied to the third quarter payment if the family requests it before the third quarter due date.

Each family is expected to fund raise $350 during the course of the school year. The School Board policy is as follows:

1. St. Dorothy School will, as need is determined by the school board, engage in fund raising events. All school families are required to participate in announced fund raising events and be responsible for collecting and/or paying the obligatory funds. The yearly fund raising goal for each family will be determined before the start of the school year and communicated to the school families with the announced tuition rate. All fund raising will be operated on a net profit basis unless stated otherwise for any given reason.

2. The St. Dorothy School Board and school administration will determine which fundraisers can be applied to the fundraising obligation, and the percent of the funds raised that will contribute to each family's commitment amount. Please note that since some fundraisers have a cost involved, only a portion of the funds collected will be applied to the fundraising obligation.

3. The school office will be responsible for the receiving and receipting of funds, and maintaining records. The Principal will report to the Board on the progress of collections.

4. All fund raising events will have a due date. Each family must turn in to the office any and all collected funds from each event by the due date of that event. All families must complete their yearly obligation no later than one month before the due date of the April tuition payment, or the balance of the commitment will be applied to the April tuition payment.

5. All families have the option to pay the required fund raising as part of their tuition installments. All such funds must be paid by or with the April tuition payment.

The tuition cost is an annual amount and not the cost for a particular quarter. Student who withdraws from St. Dorothy School during the year will be charged for each school day during the attendance period. The registration fee, the instructional materials, special programs, and hospitality fees are non-refundable.

The book fee–which is due in August–is for the rental of all hard-bound books and purchase of workbooks. In an effort to defray the high cost of the parent/guardian’s purchasing hard-bound textbooks, St. Dorothy School, therefore, purchases the books and makes them available to students on a rental basis. These textbooks, therefore, remain the property of St. Dorothy School. Lost or damaged textbooks are the responsibility of the individual student. Fees will be assessed before the end of the school year for any lost or damaged books.

If a student becomes seriously ill or injured, the parent/guardian is called. If the parent/guardian is not available, the persons listed on the student's emergency card are then contacted.

Students will only be released to the parent/guardian as listed on the emergency card (it is strongly recommended that at least three persons and their contact information be listed on the emergency card). In addition, the parent/guardian must sign the student out of the school.

The school should be notified immediately of any changes of phone numbers, addresses, or persons authorized to supervise the student in the absence of the parent/guardian.

If a student has a chronic illness such as asthma or an allergy, this information should be on file in the office, and the student's teacher should be informed.

The school should be notified immediately if a student has a communicable disease. Information should be verified by a physician. Students are to be excluded from school according to the physician's recommendations for chicken pox, mumps, measles, head lice, and German measles. Other contagious diseases such as strep throat, eye infections, skin conditions, and impetigo require a written release by a physician; students will not be permitted to return to school without such a written release.

Students who have been out of school because of admittance to a behavioral unit or psychiatric facility may be readmitted to school in one of the following ways as deemed appropriate by the school administration: (a) written correspondence to the school administration from the student’s doctor, therapist, or case worker including a diagnosis and treatment; (b) a meeting with the school administration and the student’s case worker to discuss diagnosis and treatment; and/or (c) a phone call to the school administration from the student’s doctor, therapist, or case worker including a diagnosis and treatment.

Students should NOT be in possession of ANY medication--prescription or non-prescription--at any time. (This includes over-the-counter medications such as cough drops and aspirin.)

Only a licensed physician can give medication. School personnel, including teachers, therefore, should generally not be involved with administering medication. If a student requires medication during the school day, therefore, it is recommended that the parent/ guardian come to school and administer the medication.

In an effort to accommodate the needs of an individual student who requires medication during the school day and whose parent/guardian is not available, St. Dorothy School is willing to designate a school employee (that is, a school secretary) to administer medication under the following conditions:

1. A licensed physician must indicate in writing (a) that a specific medication (by name) is necessary for the student, (b) the condition for which the medication is needed, (c) specific medication administration directions (dosage), and (d) the number of days (duration) the medication is to be administered to the student.

2. The parent/guardian must request in writing that St. Dorothy School administer the medication to the student in accordance with the licensed physician's directions.

3. All medications, prescription and non-prescription, must be provided to the school office by the parent/ guardian.

4. All medication must be in its original container. If it is a daily routine medication, the amount that is turned in should be counted and signed by the parent/guardian. When the medication is received, it will again be counted and signed.

5. Any medications for allergies should have guidelines as to amount and frequency of administration. Inhalants should be in the box with instructions on administration. Inhalers will be labeled with the student’s name.

6. Over-the-counter drugs may be given by the designated school employee (usually the school secretary). The medication should be delivered in unopened packages or blister packs with the student’s name on it. If a regularly dispensed drug is also administered, the over-the-counter drug should have a note from a medical doctor or pharmacist stating that it is acceptable to take the two drugs together.

Necessary and pertinent information regarding drugs and emergency medication will be shared with the appropriate school personnel.

Illinois State law mandates school personnel to inform the Department of Child Family Services (DCFS) of any suspicion of child abuse or neglect. St. Dorothy School and its teachers and administrators, as mandated school personnel, follow this Illinois law.

The Illinois Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act mandates that school personnel report alleged or suspected child abuse and/or neglect to the Illinois Department of Children and Family services (DCFS) when the alleged abuse is a parent, guardian, relative, or other caretaker who has some responsibility for the child's welfare at the time of the abuse or neglect. This includes professional such as teachers who are responsible for the care of the child.

Illinois law requires school professional to notify DCFS even if there is a suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Thus, the school professional need not have proof or convincing evidence of the abuse; merely suspicion of abuse makes a call to DCFS necessary. Illinois law protects school professionals from litigation if the DCFS call was made in good faith.

Uniforms are worn from the first day of school to the last day of the school year and are governed by the DRESS CODE policy in the Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook. (The administration reserves the right to determine modifications of the dress code.)

Homeroom teachers are originally responsible for checking proper uniform dress at the beginning of the day. During the day, however, all teachers should monitor the dress code.

Student uniforms, worn at St. Dorothy School by all students, are a sign of the St. Dorothy Catholic education community. Uniforms are worn by all students in Grades K through 8 from the first day of school until the last day of school. Non-uniform days may be announced occasionally in the newsletter.

MARTINELLI'S
3517 W 95TH Street
Evergreen Park, IL 60805
Phone: (708) 425-6287
Fax: (708) 425-6286

Store Hours:
Mon., Thurs. 9:30-8:00
Tues., Wed., & Fri. 9:30-6:00
Sat. 9:30-5:00
Sundays in August Noon - 5:00

Dress code will be monitored on a regular basis and the dress code policy will be strictly enforced.

Parents will be notified of dress code violation. Parents may be asked to bring appropriate attire to school for their child.

Violation of the dress code policy may result in the loss of out-of-uniform privileges at the end of the month (or on any designated day) and/or referral to the Disciplinary Board.

RESPONSIBILITY: St. Dorothy School, in keeping with its mission of implementing a Catholic educational community, promotes respect for self, others, and others' property at all times. Students' conduct, therefore, should be formed by Christian values. Some examples of expected behavior include--but are not limited to--participating fully in the St. Dorothy Catholic educational community, consistently engaging in the educational process, cooperating with teachers and school personnel, respecting other students, maintaining appropriate conduct during classroom and other school activities, using appropriate language when addressing school personnel and students, remaining on school grounds during the school day, caring for school and personal property, and refraining from the possession of weapons or potentially harmful (or illegal) substances of any kind.

Students are expected to observe St. Dorothy School's policies and procedures (outlined in this handbook) as well as classroom rules (determined by faculty) and other school practices. A student's failure to observe these will result in discipline procedures.

Ordinarily, student discipline is handled by the student's teacher in the classroom on a case by case basis. Consequences for not observing classroom or school policies and procedures are determined by the teacher and may vary according to the seriousness of the behavior. A few examples of such situations include tardiness, not bringing required materials to class, not engaging in the educational process (off-task behavior), or disrupting the educational process (distracting others).

In order to help facilitate the smooth operations of the school, a Discipline Board will be formed. this Board will be comprised of the Principal, Assistant Principal, Faculty Members and one School Parent. They will meet periodically to review the discipline code, including the tardy policy, confer with the rest of the staff and conference with parents and students when necessary.

Students are encouraged to discuss their conduct progress and conduct grade regularly with their homeroom teachers and to establish goals for behavioral (and conduct grade) remediation. The parent/guardian, obviously, is a tremendous source of “motivation” for positive student change; thus, we look to the parent/guardian for support and a consistent message to students regarding the need for positive, productive behavior.

In other words, if you are notified that your student has received disciplinary action at school, there should be consequences at home. First, students need to know that you value and support their educational program. Second, a student who receives the same message at school and at home may be more likely to put that message into practice.

SERIOUS BEHAVIOR: Behavior that is deemed “more serious” is reported to the parent/guardian and the school administration; consequences are determined on a case-by-case basis. When appropriate, the principal may impose more serious disciplinary measures, such as suspension, probation, and/or expulsion. These disciplinary measures may be imposed, progressively or separately, as the situation warrants.

Every attempt is made by St. Dorothy School to cooperate with the parent/guardian in the remediation of a student's behavior. (A counselor--or referral to other professional services--is also available upon request.) Occasionally, the principal may determine that the intervention of a professional outside-of-school counselor may be necessary (the principal will provide details at that time).

Some behaviors that are considered SERIOUS include--but are not limited to--the following:

1. Disrupting other classrooms while going to the cafeteria, restroom, and so on.

2. Bringing electronic toys--even “educational” ones (for example, computer games, hand-held games, or “virtual reality pets”)--to school [these will be confiscated].

3. Bringing beepers, CD-players, stereos, jam boxes, radios, cellular phones, laser pens, and the like to school [these will be confiscated].

4. Engaging in inappropriate personal behavior such as kissing, holding hands, and other inappropriate behavior.

6. Disregarding school policies and procedures (such as school or classroom rules).

8. Throwing inappropriate and/or dangerous objects (for example, rocks and snowballs).

Some behaviors that are considered VERY SERIOUS and that warrant immediate action include--but are not limited to--the following:

1. HARASSMENT, BULLYING, OR INTIMIDATION OF OTHERS such as excessive teasing, making threats, or physically pushing someone around to frighten another.

2. INTENTIONALLY CAUSING OR ATTEMPTING TO CAUSE PHYSICAL INJURY or intentionally behaving in such a way as could reasonably cause physical injury to a student or school personnel.

3. PERSONAL DISHONESTY (such as lying, forging a signature, or stealing) or ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (such as cheating and/or plagiarism).

6. POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES OR WEAPONS (such as alcohol, tobacco, knives, and handguns) OR ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY (such as purchasing lottery tickets).

7. VERBAL AND/OR NON-VERBAL DISRESPECT FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL OR OTHER STUDENTS such as profane or vulgar language (spoken, written, or gestured), making fun of others (including name calling), or making threats...

9. SEXUAL HARASSMENT which includes (but is not limited to) any unwanted or un-welcomed comment, joke, gesture, touch, noise, graffiti, message, phone call, e-mail message, or letter that is of a sexual nature or has a sexual connotation. Sexual harassment by one employee of another, by an employee of a student, by a student of an employee, or by one student of another is unacceptable conduct. Employees or students who engage in any type of sexual harassment will be subject to appropriate discipline, including suspension and/ or dismissal.

Retaliation in any form against an employee or student who exercises his or her right to make a complaint under this policy is strictly prohibited, and will itself be cause of appropriate disciplinary action.

Any employee or student who knowingly makes false charges against an employee or a student in an attempt to demean, harass, abuse, or embarrass that individual will be subject to the sanctions for misconduct set forth above.

10. GANG BEHAVIOR: St. Dorothy School, in keeping with its mission of implementing a Catholic educational community, does not tolerate gang behavior in any form. Gang affiliation or the appearance of gang affiliation--which includes, but is not limited to, expression in costume (for example, clothing colors or earrings); hair styles; hand gestures; signs, insignias, and posters (whether in lockers, books, or notebooks); graffiti; and intimidation of others--has no place at St. Dorothy School and may result in immediate suspension and/or expulsion.

11. POSSESSION OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL or exploring Internet sites with such material.

13. LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS WITHOUT SPECIFIC PERMISSION TO DO SO BY THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

14. ENGAGING IN ANY OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED BEHAVIORS VIA E-MAIL, INSTANT MESSAGING, WEBSITES, TELEPHONE MESSAGES, AND SO ON.

COMPUTER-RELATED responsibilities include observing the school’s Internet use agreement (Appendix B); cooperating with supervising faculty and personnel at all times; and refraining from brining food and/or drink near computers.

LUNCHTIME responsibilities include refraining from throwing paper, food, or other objects; remaining seated until dismissed by school personnel; cleaning up the table and table area and appropriately disposing of garbage after eating; and respecting others by not cutting into lunch lines and by not playing or shouting while in lunch lines.

PLAYGROUND responsibilities include lining up by classes when appropriate; remaining on school grounds in specifically-designated play areas; refraining from physical contact (such as play fighting and karate kicking); refraining from throwing inappropriate and/or dangerous objects (for example, rocks and snowballs); respecting all supervising school personnel and cooperating with their directions and requests; and settling disputes appropriately.

INSIDE RECESS responsibilities include remaining seated in classrooms; and refraining from loud conversation out of respect for other classes.

FOOD responsibilities include refraining from gum chewing while waiting in the gym in the morning after arriving at school or after school while waiting for buses; finishing treats in the classroom where they are given before leaving that classroom (which will keep food out of the hallways, gym, and so on) and refraining from having open beverage cans and/or bottles in the school hallways, even after school hours.

These “lists” above are not all inclusive, nor are they intended to approach student behavior from a “negative” viewpoint. As mentioned above, St. Dorothy School, in keeping with its mission of implementing a Catholic educational community, promotes respect for self, others, and others' property at all times . . . and therefore expects that students’ conduct will be formed by and demonstrates Christian values, as mentioned in the school’s mission statement:

St. Dorothy School's mission is to promote academic excellence, to inspire its students to be lifelong learners, and to prssess the skills necessary to compete in a global society. We teach Catholic/Christian values and partner with families to create a spirit of stewardship and service.

* WE believe that this mission can only be attained through the efforts of priests, principal, faculty, staff, students, School Board, parents, volunteers, parishioners, and community working together to graduate students with the skills necessary to become competent, caring learners in the 21st century.

Behaviors that are deemed serious or that are not remediated are referred to the administration. The principal, considering the issues on a case-by-case basis, may determine that detention, suspension, and/or behavior contract (see below) are appropriate. In very serious cases, expulsion may be warranted.

Detention usually refers to a period of time before school. The homeroom teacher normally assigns the detention, providing the student with a parent note indicating the date and time of the detention (usually from 7:00 to 7:45 am). Missed detentions incur (a) making up the detention and (b) serving an additional detention.

Occasionally, it may be deemed appropriate for a student to engage in a period of after-school public service where the student assists in some aspect of school maintenance or cleaning as a way to engage in some positive, productive effort for the school community.

Student suspension involves time spent out-of-school which may range from one to more days, as determined by the school administration. (Students who have paid field trip fees and subsequently incur a suspension are not entitled to a refund of those fees since such fees are usually sent to the participating organization/s and are not recoverable by the school.)

While students on suspension are not eligible to attend a school field trip, students on suspension are responsible for class work missed; students will be given credit for work done during a suspension; and students do get credit for tests that are made up after the suspension.

Behavior Probation Behavior contracts will be signed agreements among the student, parents/guardians, and the school administration after repeated or serious violations of the school discipline code. The students conduct will be monitored for no less than nine weeks, with written reports made to the parent/guardian at three-week intervals. The principal, asst, principal, teacher(s), and counselor will serve on this discipline committee. Counseling, or other referrals made be made during the course of this period. If significant improvement is not made, the student may be asked to leave during St. Dorothy’s at any time during the contract period.

Probation occurs either (a) when a student is accepted to St. Dorothy School or (b) when a student’s academic or behavioral performance is characterized by a serious lack of responsibility (on the part of the student or parent).

Students in who enter St. Dorothy School are admitted on a probationary status, pending their academic and behavioral performance during the first semester of the academic year. If a student fails to perform well either

academically or behaviorally, the student may be asked to leave St. Dorothy School at any time during the probationary period.

CANDY AND GUM
Candy and/or gum chewing during school hours, or on school grounds, will have the following consequesnces:
1st offense: Warning
2nd offense: $5.00 fine
Chronic problems will be referred to the Discipline Board

St. Dorothy School acknowledges that cell phones are a necessary means of communication between parents and their children. However, cell phones can be a disruption to the educational process. As such, students will be allowed to have cellular phones in school, following these guidelines:

Field trips with clear educational objectives are a valuable teaching tool and a significant part of the school curriculum. A parent or guardian must sign and return a field trip permission slip requesting that St. Dorothy School take a student on a field trip, however. No student may go on a field trip without the written permission of the parent or guardian; permission to participate on a field trip cannot be granted over the telephone.

Field trips can be a valuable teaching tool. Archdiocesan policy and current educational thinking on field trips state that field trips must be of educational value, must be related to the class curriculum, and must have (an) expressly-stated educational objective(s).

At least three weeks prior to the trip, the teacher is to submit to the principal a written field trip request that expressly states the educational objective(s) of the proposed trip and provides details (such as date, times, transportation arrangements, supervisory arrangements, parent/guardian permission documents, and so on). See appendix for Field Trip Request form.)

* Is consistent with an promotes the educational philosophy and goals of the school corporation and the state board of education;

Upon approval, faculty sponsors make reservations at the destination; arrange bus transportation to/from the destination with the school office; prepare an appropriate permission note containing a "request" clause and a "hold harmless" clause (the school office will assist with this); submit the permission note to the administration; disseminate and collect permission notes; check the signatures on the notes; and keep all monies in a clearly identified envelope in the school safe. If a check will be needed for the trip, the school office needs two days' notice to process this.

In addition, the cafeteria coordinator and "specials teachers" should be notified well in advance (at least one week in advance) that a group of students will not be in the building that day or for some specific times during that day.

It is the teacher's responsibility to see that permission slips are sent home. No student may go on a field trip without the written permission of the parent/guardian. (In addition, parent/guardian signatures are to be checked.) Sample field trip permission forms are provided in the office.

Telephone permission from a parent/guardian NEVER substitutes for the required written and signed permission note.

Because of the tremendous legal and professional liabilities involved with field trips, only buses should be used for field trips. Students should not be in faculty cars. Students should not be in cars other than their parents'/guardians'. Archdiocesan insurance will probably not cover such accidents (which can easily amount to over $1 million).

Students should only bring to school any money needed for school that day. All students are responsible for their own money.

Money sent to school by lower grade students should be in a sealed envelope that is clearly labeled with the student's name, teacher's name, amount of money, and what the money is for.

In short, money or valuables should never be left in desks or lockers. St. Dorothy School can not be and is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

School lockers and desks remain the property of St. Dorothy School, and school authorities have a responsibility and a right to examine the contents of those lockers and desks for reasons of health, safety, and security. Acceptance on the part of the student of a locker and/or desk is acknowledgment of this right.

Students must keep desks and lockers clean. In some cases, this goal may not be achieved without the help of the teacher. Thus, it may be necessary to set aside some time on a regular basis to accomplish this goal.

Fire, tornado, and general emergency drills will be held periodically throughout the school year. Practice drills provide opportunities to become familiar with necessary procedures. Quiet and order are to be maintained during fire drills. Any volunteers or visitors will be instructed to follow the same procedures.

Teachers are responsible for training their classes in proper procedures for fire, tornado, and emergency drills.

Practice drills provide opportunities to become familiar with necessary procedures. Quiet and order are to be maintained during drills. Any volunteers or visitors are to be instructed to follow the same procedures. The building is to be evacuated according to the posted plan. All doors are to be closed and lights turned off.

Teachers are to carry a class list with them and take attendance as soon as the assigned class location is reached.

Upon any suspicion of fire, the alarm should be rung. Teachers need to be aware of the closest fire alarm box and fire extinguisher to their rooms. Exit routes are to be posted in each room and periodically reviewed with students.

It is rare for the school to close (for example, because of inclement weather). In case of an emergency closing, however, an official announcement will be made by the Emergency closing Center Hotline over the following radio and television stations: WGN, WMAQ, WBBM, and WLS AM; B-96 and WUSN-99 FM; and Channel 32 TV.

In addition, for a $0.95 charge, parents may call the Emergency closing Center Hotline at 1-900-407-SNOW.

In the event that the Chicago Public School system closes, all city Catholic schools automatically close.

As recommended by the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools, St. Dorothy School has a School Board whose function it is to advise the principal on matters pertaining to the school. More importantly, the Board exists to ensure the viability of St. Dorothy School by its activity in development, marketing, public relations, and fund raising.

The parent/guardian planning to transfer students to another school (for example, high school) is asked to notify St. Dorothy School in advance so that records, reports, and accounts may be processed. A transfer slip is then issued to the parent/guardian on the day the student leaves St. Dorothy School. In order for records to be sent directly to the student's new school, a written authorization for release of records must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of the student.

The Buckley Amendment grants non-custodial parents the right of access to student records. Unless the school is in possession of a (copy of a) court order to the contrary, a non-custodial parent must be allowed to discuss a student's progress and must be given unofficial copies of the report card, if requested. (See also Student Records.)

If a family leaves a school and does not pay the balance of tuition, the school need only send the health records on to the public school. Grades and test scores do not have to be sent to the public school until the balance is paid. Verbal confirmation of grades may be given.

The school assumes no liability for articles of clothing, toys, monies, headphones, video games, jewelry, school supplies, and/or other personal items brought to school. These items may be confiscated and sent to the school office where they will be secured until the item is picked up by a parent/guardian. Items not claimed at the designated time will be donated to charity.

The school keeps a LOST AND FOUND area at the main entrance. Periodic notification and final disposal of lost and found articles is published in the school newsletter.

St. Dorothy School does not provide automatic student accident insurance to its students. The school does provide the parent/guardian with the opportunity to participate in a Student Accident Insurance Program at minimal cost. Information regarding the plan is distributed during the August Tuition Collection. Note: Student athletes and students in the Extended Day Program are required to purchase School Accident Insurance.

The search of a student’s person or personal property currently being carried is permissible when there is any suspicion that the student may be carrying contraband. Contraband is defined any weapon, illegal drug paraphernalia, or other item, the possession of which is prohibited by law or by school policy.

All property of the school, including student desks, lockers and their contents, may be searched or inspected at any time without notice. Authorized school personnel have an unrestricted right to search these structures as well as any containers, book bags, purses, or articles of clothing that are left unattended on school property with our without the student present.

Students must cross Eberhart at the corners and not in the middle of the street. Students may not play in the street at dismissal.

Students will not be permitted in the area between the school, church, and rectory before or after school, unless accompanied by a St. Dorothy faculty or staff member.

St. Dorothy Safety Patrol, Adult Volunteer/Staff, and Junior Beta Monitors work to ensure the safety of each child in and outside of the building at arrivals and dismissals. Parents are urged to cooperate with the patrols and monitors by insisting that their children obey safety rules.

Parents are responsible for the safety of the student traveling to and from school. The purpose of the student safety patrol, staff supervision, or volunteer adult patrol is to assist in the safe conduct of students to and from school. However, in providing this service, St. Dorothy School and the Catholic Bishop of Chicago accept no liability for the safety of the student. There may be times due to circumstances beyond the control of the school, when a student, staff member, or adult volunteer is not on duty at a crossing.

Each month St. Dorothy School sends to parents a school calendar, which highlights that month’s events.

The Communicator newsletter will be distributed to one child in each family monthly. Parents/guardians are asked to read the enclosed materials. Parents/guardians are responsible for reading the information provided in the school Communicator.

The Junior Beta Society honors service, academics, and leadership of seventh and eighth grade students. Students are nominated for membership by the junior high teachers at the end of the first marking period. The one-time membership fee is paid by the student.

Reading is encouraged at all instructional levels. Some books are available for the students to use, in each classroom. Students are responsible for the care of any books they borrow and will be charged replacement cost for lost or damaged books.

St. Dorothy School has a closed lunch program and students must either bring a home-packed lunch or purchase lunch form the school. Milk may be purchased separately for the month. Lunch or milk tickets are purchased for the month. The daily menu listings for the month are distributed through the Communicator envelope.

1. Lunch money is paid on the 15^th of the month before the month for which lunch is ordered. If the 15^th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, lunch money shall be due on the next school day. Money sent to school for lunch should be placed in an envelope marked with the student’s name, amount, and given to the classroom teacher who will send the envelope to the office.

2. The amount due for school lunch may be paid by the year or month by dash, check, or money order. Refunds are not made due to absence, field trips, or emergency closing.

We ask that you do not send carbonated beverages (soda) in cans or bottles. If a child forgot her/his lunch, we ask that it be dropped at the school office with the child’s name and room number so it can be delivered to the student. We ask that fast food lunches not be brought to school in place of a home-packed lunch.

Every effort will be made to serve a school lunch to a student who, on occasion has forgotten her/his lunch. Parents will be billed for the lunch. Students who forget lunches on a regular basis will be charged the regular monthly fee for school lunch.

Not obeying the lunchroom rules may cause a student to forfeit the right to sit with her/his class during the lunch period.

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO TAPING

Students of St. Dorothy School will from time to time be photographed and/or video taped for classroom/school projects, use in the school yearbook, publicity purposes, school web site, and other reasons. It is not the intent of any member of the faculty or staff of St. Dorothy School to misuse these images. Any parent wishing to not have images of their child(ren) used in school is asked to notify the school office.

Before any student will be permitted to use school computers, either in the computer lab or in the classroom, an acceptable use agreement must be read and signed by both the student and the parent. Failure to sign the acceptable use agreement will result in missed computer classes, which may lower a student’s grade. If a student breaks the technology use rules, as outlined in the acceptable use agreement, that student may not be allowed to continue using school computers. One copy of the acceptable use agreement is included in the handbook (Appendix B), additional copies are available at school, or on the school web page.

Statements in the handbook are subject to amendment with or without notice. The school will attempt to keep parents/guardians and students well informed of all changes.

Offense	Consequence	Date of offense (student initial)	Communication: Person and Date
3 Tardies	1/2 hour detention before or after school
6 Tardies	Parent conference with Discipline Board
9 Tardies	Attendance Probation
	$20.00 fine for each tardy
	1 Day Suspension