1. How are Morning Arrival Procedures handled? Students may be dropped off only after 7:15am. Kindergarteners may go to the gym to wait until 7:30am at which time a teacher will escort them to class at 7:30 am. Grades 1 st -8 th may go to the cafeteria and wait there until 7:30am after which time they should go immediately to their assigned classroom. Students are asked to be in their classrooms NO LATER than 7:45am when morning announcements will begin. Students coming in after 7:45am need to report to the office before going to class. (See Tardies policy in student handbook online. Note: Bus delays do not count as a tardy.) When dropping off in the morning PLEASE have your student(s) exit the car on the passenger side only and begin exiting cars when you can see the north end of the school building outside the window. 2. How are Afternoon Dismissal/Pick-Up Procedures handled? ALL Students should be picked up through the car-line. We ask that you a. NOT come into the building to wait at the bottom of the stairs. b. NOT wait outside the exit door to take your children when they exit the building. Cars line up facing the Kindergarten building (south) in 7 rows of cars. Please DO NOT get out of your car and call your children to your car. Teachers/administrators will release your children as they see the car sign you have been provided with your family s name on it. When all students in one car line are loaded we will release that car line (left to right) and ask that you pull straight ahead all the way through the car line in order to exit the parking lot. 3. What are the details of the school Dress Code? The online link to the Dress Code Requirements is as follows: www.stbirish.net Please notify the school office if you did not receive a hard copy of the dress code and wish to have one. 4. What are Spirit Wear days and Dress Down days? See Exceptions section from the Dress Code: 1
EXCEPTIONS: A. Dress Down Days Attire for dress down days is expected to be in good taste and to be appropriate for a Christian atmosphere. The following guidelines must be adhered to on these days: Length of clothing must be dress code length Sleeveless tops/blouses/shirts are not permitted Shoes and sandals must have heel straps Hair dye is not permitted KG through 5th graders may wear Crocs on dress down day B. For All Students: Students with 4 or more dress code violations in 1 month will result in the loss of the dress down day for the month. For Grades 6/7/8: Each day middle school homeroom teachers track adherence to the dress code. If students have no dress code violations Monday through Thursday, they may wear jeans on Friday. Homeroom teachers will let students know when this option is to begin. C) For Grades 7/8 Only: St. Bartholomew or Northside team shirts are acceptable on game/meet days. Sleeveless team shirts must have a white tee shirt underneath. If a game/meet is scheduled on a Mass day, students may change into team shirts after Mass D) Spiritwear Day: School spiritwear (sold by St. Bartholomew Athletics and also found in the uniform exchange area near the elevator on the lower level of the school) may be worn on Fridays. 5. What are some significant events on the School Calendar 2015-2016? Link to school calendar online to view all significant events: www.stbirish.net Parent Information Night - July 30 th @ 6:00-8:00PM Location- church & school: We begin at the church and transition to the school. School Families Welcome Back Ice Cream Social - July 31 st @ 4:30-5:30PM An informal time for children & parents to meet their new teachers, bring their school supplies to their new classroom, meet new classmates and see old friends. PTO New Parent Orientation Meeting - August 13 th (After Mass) @ 9:15AM Church Lower Level First PTO Meeting - August 19 th @ 6:00PM - School Cafeteria PTO Fall Festival (fundraiser) September 19 th : This fundraiser is hosted by our school PTO and open to the entire parish and public community. It is a family event with game booths run by each grade and specialty booths (Family Fun Jars, Peg Board, cake/baked goods auction, etc.) All parents are encouraged to participate in their child(ren) s grade activity/booth. Please contact the PTO President for more information. Chris Shute: cshute02@yahoo.com 2
Grandparents Day/All School Mass @ 8:30am October 2nd. This is a school wide event to allow grandparents the opportunity to see student(s) school/classroom and attend all-school mass. Thanksgiving Feast November 19 th @ 11:30am. This is an all school student luncheon meal hosted by the PTO to celebrate Thanksgiving. It takes place in the school gymnasium. 2 nd /3 rd Grade Christmas Play December 16 th @ 1:30pm & 7:00pm - Gym This is a program put on by the 2 nd & 3 rd grade classes each year. Parents, relatives and friends are invited to come. The 1:30pm performance is generally for the school s student body. The second evening performance is offered for those who can not attend the daytime performance. Catholic Schools Week Feb 1st - 5th. This is a fun filled week to celebrate the joy and faith of our rich and rewarding mission of Catholic Schools Education. Details to be announced in the weeks leading up to Catholic Schools Week. PTO Mother-Son Jock Rock Night (7:00pm-8:30pm gym) February 5 th. This is an event sponsored by our school PTO and coordinated by our gym teacher, Ms. Perry. It allows moms (or aunt/grandmother etc.) and their special boy(s) to enjoy an evening of fun, food and fellowship. PTO Father-Daughter Dance (6:00pm-8:00pm gym) February 27 th This is an event sponsored by our school PTO. It allows dads (or uncles/grandfathers, etc.) and their special girl(s) to enjoy an evening of fun, food and dancing. Athletic Banquet (6:00PM gym) - March 7th This is an annual banquet to celebrate all the talents of all our sports teams and individuals. PTO Auction (5:30pm) - April 16th This is a main fundraiser for our school that includes a meal, entertainment, live and silent auction items. This is an evening for adults only (school parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and staff) to get out and enjoy a nice meal and other adult company. It is also a chance to acquire a class artwork made by your child s class. 5 th Grade Musical May 11 th @ 1:30pm & 7:00pm - Gym This is a spring musical program led by Mrs. Owens each spring and performed by our 5 th grades classes. Parents, relatives and friends are invited to come. The 1:30pm performance is generally for the school s student body. The second evening performance at 7pm is offered for those who cannot attend the daytime performance. 3
6. What are the Mass Days/Times/Expectations of students and families? All-School Masses will be held weekly on Thursday at 8:15am unless otherwise noted on the school calendar or announced by the school administration. All are welcome. Non-Catholic participants and Catholic participants having not yet received First Communion may come to Eucharist for a blessing. All Catholic participants having already received their First Communion are expected to receive full communion. Catholic families are also strongly encouraged to attend weekend Mass with their child(ren). 7. What are some extracurricular activities we offer at St. Bartholomew School? Boys & Girls Scouts Lego League Spell Bowl Church Band Children s Choir See the student handbook for more details or contact the school office. Girls & Boys Basketball 4 th grade Girls & Boys Basketball, Volleyball & Cheerleading 5 th & 6 th grade Girls & Boys Basketball, Volleyball & Cheerleading 7 th & 8 th grade We also have a partnership with North Side Middle School for our students to participate in NSMS Athletic programs not currently offered at St. Bartholomew (Cross Country, Track & Field, Football, etc). Please contact our school s athletic director for additional information. The online link to our Athletic Department information is as follows: www.stbirish.net 8. How are student grades handled? JupiterGrades Report cards for Kindergarten-3 rd grades will be standards-based. Report cards for students in 4 th -8 th grades will be traditional. You will be able to view all of your child(ren) s grades through JupiterGrades. This is a system required for all diocesan schools to maintain student data, create and send reports to the Indiana Department of Education, and distribute important/urgent information to all school families. Please be sure you inform the school office if you have any changes to your contact information. 4
9. How do I volunteer at St. Bartholomew School? Every adult that wishes to volunteer at school (or with children in any capacity within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis) must complete the new online program called Safe & Sacred. This program can be found on the website of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis or a link is provided on our school website. It is an online program that last about 45 mins. It includes a video with a Q&A response section at the end of the session. This program is required for the safety and care of our children. Safe & Sacred web link: https://safeandsacred-archindy.org/login/index.php Once Safe & Sacred is completed there are many many many opportunities for volunteering at St. Bartholomew. A. PTO events (Please email our PTO President: Chris Shute - cshute02@yahoo.com) B. Class room helpers C. Room parent D. Special School events E. Lunch Duty/Fundraiser lunches F. Grant Writing G. Mentor Families F. Monthly Grade sponsored lunches G. Christmas luncheon for teachers H. Thanksgiving Feast I. Catholic Schools Week J. Children s Choir.and so much more! 10. What is the procedure to Sign in/out of school for students and volunteers/visitors? Please stop at the front desk of the school s main office (inside front doors and turn right to go up the stairs) to sign your child(ren) out/in of school for any appointments and also for visitors (i.e. dropping off lunches, forgotten homework, etc.) and volunteers. If you are a visitor or a volunteer, you will be issued a name tag at the office that you must wear in the school. We ask that you NOT go to your child(ren) s classroom directly. This is very distracting to the children and has the potential to disrupt a lesson the teacher is trying give. 5
11. Will the FACTS program also handle my Hot/Fundraiser Lunch, Field Trip and all other miscellaneous charges from school? Yes, FACTS will manage Hot lunch, Fundraiser Lunches, Field Trip monies, band fees, and tuition. Please DO NOT send any money for these things in to the school office by personal checks and cash. LUNCH account on FACTS: hot lunch milk money pizza day lunch hot dog day lunch spaghetti day lunch lunch on the yard nachos & cheese popcorn & drink FIELD TRIPS/SUPPLY FEES account on FACTS: field trips novels purchased for students by the school (mostly middle school) SPECIAL account on FACTS: ONLY used by 4 th -8 th grade students for band FACTS help line: Phone (toll free): 866-441-4637 Monday - Thursday 7:30 am - 7:00 pm (CST) Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm (CST) 12. How much is hot lunch, extra milk, Fundraiser lunches and snacks? Hot lunch menus are also posted on the school website month by month. To access/view please click the MENU tab on the school s website. We are also a provider of Free & Reduced Price lunches. Please contact the school office for an application form. Hot lunch (includes 1 milk) - $2.75 Menu on school website. Milk only - $0.50 Other lunch options: Salad on Tuesday & Thursday - $2.75 Box Lunch on Monday, Wednesday & Friday - $2.75 (they alternate between ham & turkey sandwiches) 6
Peanut Butter (only sandwich) any day - $2.75 (you get the rest of hot lunch for that day just not the main course) Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich any day - $2.75 (you get the rest of hot lunch for that day just not the main course) Fundraiser Lunches & Snacks- See school calendar for dates - Benefits go directly to our classrooms for these fundraiser lunches. Pizza days - $5 (Profits go to 8th grade) Pasta days - $5 (Profits go to 7th grade) Hot Dog days--$2.50 (You can order extra hot hogs for $.50 each & Profits go to each grade level.) Nacho/cheese--$2.50 (This is served as their snack for the day.) - Profits go to 8th grade. Popcorn/juice--$1.50 (This is served as their snack for the day.) Profits go to Friends of Haiti/St. Anne in Limonade, Haiti. (Note: all monies handled through FACTS system - LUNCH account option) 13. What are some of the special class events & field trips at St. Bartholomew? Kindergarten - Kindy 500 and the Indianapolis Zoo 1st - Appleworks in Trafalgar 2nd - First Communion and go to a play at Clowes Hall every other year, Christmas Play 3rd - Art Museum in Indianapolis, Christmas Play 4th - Connor Prairie and JA Biztown 5th - JA Biztown, 5 th Grade Musical 6th Camping Field Trip 7th - Chicago 8th Washington, DC 14. What is SCRIP? This is a school wide year around fundraising program that allows student families to raise money for class trips, individual tuition reduction, and school programs. The best thing about SCRIP is that the gift cards you purchase you do so at face value and there are no extra fees that you incur. When you go to spend the gift card you spend the full value you paid at purchase. The vendor donates a designated % of the card you purchase to the school for your benefit. You decide 7
if you want the money credited to your tuition account, your class trip account or donate it back to the school. You can even split the money raised between these accounts. (i.e. 50% - your school tuition and 50% to school). For example, if you shop at Target you can get a gift card for $50 and Target donates 2.5% of that $50 to you/st. Bartholomew! You may purchase cards each week online or with Linda Smith in the concessions window each Friday after school, purchase online or submit a paper order with a check to Linda via the school communication folder (manual orders are submitted each Sunday evening no later than 7PM EST). Contact Linda Smith for questions and details regarding this fabulous program! Email: malasmith@sbcglobal.net SCRIP web link: http://www.glscrip.com/ 15. When is our school nurse available? Our school nurse, Theresa Hotek, is available all day Fridays and most Tuesdays and from 11am until school dismissal on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you have any questions regarding your student(s) medical records or health please feel free to contact her via email nurse@stbirish.net or by calling the school office 812-379-9353. 16. When is our school counselor available? Our school counselor, Jill Mulligan, is available all day Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you have any questions or would like to have your child see the counselor please feel free to contact her via email counselor@stbirish.net or by calling the school office 812-379-9353. 8