School detention will be held weekly. At the beginning of the school year the detention day will be determined. A prior notice of school detention will be sent home to parents/guardians for their signature. (see Appendix)

Teachers may also issue classroom detentions for the infraction of classroom rules. These detentions will be served at the classroom teacher’s discretion and with notification to the parent/guardian. Notice(s) of school detention will be sent home in the brown envelope on Thursday for parent’s/guardian’s signatures, which then has to be returned to school by that Monday. The detention will be served on detention day (normally Wednesday) that week.

The following infractions will necessitate a school detention:

1. Disregard for school rules and disruptive, disrespectful, and uncooperative behavior.
2. Tardiness (every 3 lates constitutes 1 detention)
3. Inappropriate behavior

If these infractions are not improved after two detentions, then follow-up steps will be taken. A Principal/Parent/Student conference will be scheduled at which time further corrective measures, such as suspension, will be taken.

The full Summer Uniform (optional) from September to November 1 and April 1 to June consists of:

GIRLS & BOYS (GR: K-8)

1. Beige Bermuda Shorts (Boys & Girls or Beige Skorts for the Girls) (The shorts/skorts must reach down to the knee.)
2. Yellow Golf Shirt with School Logo
3. Brown Belt
4. White Anklet or Crew Socks
5. White low-cut sneakers (Keds Type)

If this is not adhered to, then your child will be required to wear the regular winter uniform.

The full Regular Uniform consists of:

GIRLS (GR: K-5)

1. Plaid Jumper
2. Yellow Blouse (rounded collar)
3. Plaid Tie
4. Dark Green Knee Socks (Green Tights in Winter)
5. Dark Green Sweater
6. Dark Green Uniform Slacks (Optional for Winter).
7. If worn, no jumper will be worn.
8. Black Tie or Velcro-Strap Shoes

GIRLS (GR: 6-8)

Plaid (Kilt-Style) Skirt (Length-Middle of the Knee----If not adhered to then Greene Company Dark Green Slacks must be worn)
Yellow Golf Shirt with School Logo
Dark Green Sweater
Black Tights/Opaque Stockings
Black Shoes (Flats) –
No Platform/Stacked Heel Shoes

BOYS (GR. K-5):

Dark Green Trousers (properly fitted to the waist)
Yellow Shirt
Plaid Tie
Dark Green Sweater
Black Belt
Black Socks
Black Tie or Velcro-Strap Shoes

BOYS (GR. 6-8)

Dark Green Trousers (properly fitted to the waist)
Yellow Golf Shirt with School Logo
Dark Green Sweater
Black Belt
Black Socks
Black Tie Shoes

In addition to the green uniform sweaters, the gym uniform sweatshirt with the school logo (purchased through the school) may be worn for warmth with the regular school uniform. These are the only items permitted to be worn in school.
All uniforms are to be purchased from Flynn & O’Hara which is located in Emerson. There will be no variations in the Dress Code.

All students grades K-8, wear gym uniforms, which are ordered through the school, to school on gym days. The regulation gym uniform (no exceptions) consists of the following:
Mandatory
Gold T-Shirt with Logo
Gold sweatpants with Logo
All white low-top sneakers
All white athletic socks (socks must reach the ankle at least)
Optional
Gold Mesh Shorts with Logo (permitted in warmer weather)
Gold Sweatshirt with Logo

A minimum of jewelry is to be worn. Stud earrings or small hoops may be worn only in girls’ ear lobes.

Boys are not permitted to wear earrings. No make-up. Only clear nail polish is permitted. Hats are not to be worn in school.

Hair is to be kept well groomed.

Boys’ hair is to be conservatively cut; out of the eyes and above the shirt collar.

Unusual trends in hair fashions are not permitted for boys or for girls. Student’s hair is not to be dyed.

The administration reserves the right to make final decisions in this regard.

The following is a list of major subjects which must be successfully completed by every student for promotion to the next grade:

Religion/Family Life	Language Arts	Social Studies
Reading	Mathematics	Science

The basic curriculum is complemented with:

Art	Music	Physical Education
Computer *	Foreign Language

* Saint Joseph School has a Computer Network Acceptable Use Policy and a Computer Network Contract (see Appendix) that must be read and signed by each student and their parent/guardian. If the rules and policies of the contract are not adhered to, serious consequences will result.

Instrumental lessons are available for additional fees.

The non-Catholic student is welcome at Saint Joseph School, but he/she is expected to understand and agree that the School exists to educate in the framework of Catholic values.

Non-Catholic students must participate in the Religion classes and liturgical services scheduled for the students during the year.

Homework assignments supplement and reinforce classroom learning.
Parents are expected to assist students with homework and to sign it or the assignment pad when requested.
Incomplete homework assignments can result in a classroom or school detention, a progress report, and a lower academic and personal development mark on the report card.

Time Guidelines for Combined Written Work and Study

Grade K, 1, 2 - 30 minutes	Grade 3 - 45 minutes
Grades 4, 5, 6 – 1 hour	Grades 7 & 8 – 1 Ѕ hours

Report cards are distributed three times per year for grades 1 through 8 and two times a year for kindergarten.
A parent or guardian must sign and return the report card envelope to school. The report card and grading procedures have been issued by the Archdiocese of Newark School Office.

Progress reports will be sent home with every student in grades 1-8 midway through each trimester. This will inform parents and guardians of their child’s progress and provide an opportunity for improvement or signal a concern in a specific area.

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten parents will be made aware of any concerns by the teacher on a one-to-one basis with parents/guardians. Progress reports are kept on file in the office.

Grades 1-3	Grades 4-8
E= Exceeds	A+ = 97-100
S= Secure	A = 92-96
D= Developing	B+ = 88-91
B= Beginning	B = 83-87
N= Not Yet Performing	C+ = 78-82
C = 73-77 D = 70-72 U = Below 70 - failure

The grading codes for grades 1-3 are given for academic subjects. The letter grades are given for academic subjects in grades 4-8.

Marks for personal development and special subjects use the following standard:

1. U Unsatisfactory
2. I Improvement needed
3. S Satisfactory
4. O Outstanding

The kindergarten has a skills acquisition based report card. Check marks will indicate the development level of each skill.

Saint Joseph School Honor Roll applies to grades 6 through 8. Honor Roll status will be calculated according to the following system:

1. Principal’s List     All A+’s & A’s
2. First Honors:      More A’s than B’s
3. Second Honors:    All A’s and B’s

To be eligible for the honor roll, a student may not receive any mark lower than “Satisfactory” where this grading system applies.

Promotion and retention are determined by the teacher with the approval of the Principal. Both are based on the academic

achievement and maturity level of the child. A student will be retained in a grade only when there is reason to believe he/she will benefit from the retention. Every effort should be made by both the school and parents to meet the student’s needs, utilizing special services where they are required.

If the school realizes that it can no longer service the particular needs of the student, after consultation with the parent, a transfer will be requested.

Formal parent-teacher conferences will be held after the first and second report card. Notices will be sent home to choose times and days. Additional conferences may be scheduled when a child’s academic performance or behavior warrants it.

Viewing Records:
A parent/guardian has the right to view a student’s academic and health records, the emergency contacts sheet and the academic standardized test results. Records are available upon request.

Government Records:
Records attached to publicly funded services provided through the local Board of Education, such as Child Study Team Reviews, Compensatory Education, Speech, English as a Second Language, etc., are the property of the Board of Education. A parent/guardian who wishes to examine these records or to procure copies must apply to the Board.

Transcripts:
Transcripts of academic and health records may not be given directly to the parent/guardian in the event of a transfer. A request for transfer must be submitted in written form by a parent/guardian. (See Appendix for TRANSFER PROCEDURE). Transcripts will be sent directly from school to school when the sending school receives an official written request from the receiving school. If the parent/guardian does not submit a request for transfer that includes an authorization to send a transcript, the receiving school must secure permission from the parent/guardian to request the transcript from the “sending” school.

Privacy of Records:
All student records are maintained in confidence by the personnel of Saint Joseph School.

Testing:
An Archdiocesan testing program is administered annually for Grades 1 to 7, usually the first week in March. Grade 8 takes the High School Placement test in November. It is critical that the students be in attendance during this time unless they are ill. All students will be administered tests on subject matter taught during the year. Final examinations will be administered to students in grades 6-8 before the close of the third trimester. These examination grades will be calculated into the third trimester average and are weighted at 20% of the third trimester average.

On occasion, Saint Joseph School will sponsor and conduct field trips for the educational enrichment of the students. Field trips are arranged and planned by the teachers with the approval of the Principal. Participation in the field trip is a privilege.
Students with a history of poor conduct may be refused the right to participate.
No student may participate in a field trip unless a signed parent/guardian permission slip for the specific event is submitted to the school. The permission slip form (see Appendix) is provided to the parent/guardian by the school.
Students denied participation or who choose not to participate will remain in the school.

Students are responsible for books issued each year for their use. They are to be covered and kept in good order. If a book is damaged or lost, the expense of a new purchase will be the responsibility of the student.

St. Joseph School offers an extended day BEFORE and AFTER CARE program for our students to meet the needs of the parents whose children require supervision beyond regular school hours. This includes before care from 7: a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and after school care from 3:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. A fee schedule is available at the office.

Saint Joseph School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. Saint Joseph School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Tuition rates are announced annually. The rates, all financial policies, and obligations are described in the tuition contract (see Appendix) and the annual (Re) Registration Letter (see Appendix), which is signed yearly by parents/guardians. Amounts recorded on the included documents (Appendix) are subject to change annually. Tuition payment status will be checked at quarterly intervals; and if it is not current, educational services will be withheld until arrangements for the tuition payment are made.

Parents are asked to notify the school in advance of the date of transfer.
The following information should be given:

1. Name, grade and age of child.
2. Reason for transfer.
3. New address, if transfer is due to change of residence.
4. Name and address of the school the child will attend.
5. Last date the child will attend St. Joseph’s.

After parents sign the necessary release, our school office will forward the appropriate information and records.

The school cannot assume responsibility for damage to or loss of personal property.

St. Joseph School is pleased to offer its students access to our computer network, which includes the ability to use the Internet and electronic mail.

Our goal in providing this service to teachers and students is to promote educational excellence in our school by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

While the purposes of this school are to use Internet resources for constructive educational goals, students may find ways to access other materials. St. Joseph School has taken precautions to restrict access to controversial web sites. However, on a global network, complete control is impossible. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration far exceed the disadvantages. Therefore, it is expected that students will comply with school standards and the specific rules listed below.

RULES:

1. Students shall exercise good judgment in visiting Internet web sites. Visit only those sites that are relevant to the topic you are researching. Some sites contain objectionable material. DO NOT VISIT THEM. If you have any questions about the appropriate nature of a site, ask a teacher for permission to visit the site.
2. Students will record their computer activity in a log present at every computer.
3. Students shall be polite and use appropriate language in on-line communications. Profanity, abusive language, and cyber bullying will not be tolerated, whether it is generated inside or outside of school.
4. Students shall not reveal their last name, home address, or phone number, nor those of others over the Internet.
5. Students shall respect the property of others. Never change or access a file belonging to another person.
6. Students shall report any misuse of the Internet or computer equipment to a teacher immediately.
7. Students shall handle all computer hardware and software in a responsible manner.
8. Students shall not bring disks from home or download a file of any type without the express permission of a teacher. This will minimize the chances of a virus infecting the network.
9. Students shall not plagiarize works that are found on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas, writings, or works of others and presenting them as if they were your own.
10. Students shall never access, keep, or send anything that they would not want their parents or teachers to see.
11. The Computer Network Contract must be signed by each student in St. Joseph School, as well as by his/her parent or guardian. This contract will be kept on file in the school office.

Children may bring their lunch to school and eat in the cafeteria. Students have the option to buy lunches provided by Maschio’s Food Services Inc. Monday

through Thursday. On Fridays, students have the option of buying lunch sponsored by the individual classes. A letter of explanation will be sent home at the beginning of each school year. A monthly calendar of lunches is sent home in the brown envelope at the beginning of each month.

hed.e to absence. school sessins for a vacation. Parent lunch aides supervise the children while they eat and at recess. Recess will be held outside except in inclement weather. Children are to dress accordingly. Lunches are offered to students for a fee. Order forms are sent home.

No child is allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime without a parent request, principal permission, an adult escort, and completion of the school sign-out procedure.

The United States flag is displayed on school grounds and in each assembly room or classroom during school hours. All are expected to stand, salute, and repeat the oath of allegiance every school day.

Students in Saint Joseph School benefit from several State and Federally Funded grants and programs, which provide developmental academic services, examination and classification, transportation, and textbook grants.