- Student Groupings
- Home Assignments
- Progress Reports
- Report Cards
- Student Extracurricular Eligibility
- Communications
- PA Act 89 Services
- Instructional Support Team (I.S.T.)
- School Records
- Promotion and Retention
- Field Trips
Students are grouped heterogeneously in grades one through eight so that through mutual sharing students may develop the affective aspects of education.
Homework is important and may be assigned every night. It is an extension of the learning which takes place in school. Parents can help their children by arranging a quiet, comfortable place for them to work and by seeing that assignments are checked for neatness and completeness.
The following is the approximate length of time for homework including written and studied assignments:
- Grades 1 and 2 – 30 minutes
- Grades 3 and 4 – 1 hour
- Grades 5 and 6 – 1 and ½ hours
- Grades 7 and 8 – 2 hours
When projects are assigned which require research, a suitable space of time will be given. This will allow the student at least one weekend for library work.
As the primary educator, a parent should contact the teacher if this time allotment is excessive to an inordinate degree.
Parents will be notified midway through a marking period with a written report of how a student is performing. However, through weekly supervision and the signing of test papers, a parent should have a clear picture of a student’s progress.
Report cards are issued in December, March and June.
Parent-Teacher conferences in grades 1 though 8 are scheduled during the first report card period. Kindergarten conferences are scheduled in January. Conferences are also arranged whenever a parent or teacher feels this is warranted.
Student Extracurricular Eligibility
Any student failing a major subject (Religion, Math, ILA, Social Studies, or Science) or whose conduct and/or effort grade falls below “3” at the time of PROGRESS REPORTS, is taken off their extracurricular activity for a consecutive five day period. Any student failing a major subject or whose conduct and/or effort grade falls below “3” at the time of REPORT CARDS, is taken off their extracurricular activity for a consecutive 10 day period. This includes both practices and games. If, after the initial period, the student’s work has not improved, he/she is suspended from the activity for another five days. If the same situation persists, the student is suspended permanently.
For any student failing a minor subject, the student is suspended from their extracurricular activity for a consecutive 5 day period. This includes both practices and games. A second warning would result in a further 5 day suspension followed by permanent suspension. Decision rests with school personnel in consultation with parents.
The coach and/or moderators of the extracurricular activity will be notified by school personnel concerning the eligibility of the students.
All athletes must attend school the day of the game in order to be able to participate in the game that same day. Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated at any time. These rules apply to all athletes on competitive teams, as well as those members on the Cheerleading team.
What we expect is that a student does his/her personal best – in the classroom and out of the classroom.
All general communications from school are sent home with the oldest child or only child in a family by means of the Communication Envelope. It is sent home monthly and more often, as necessary. It must be initialed and returned ASAP! It must be replaced if it is missing for more than a two-week period at the cost of $.25. Please return the envelope EMPTY!
To contact a teacher, a parent should write a note to the teacher requesting a conference or telephone call. Parents may also call the school office and leave a message for the teacher. Teachers are not permitted to leave classrooms to see parents or answer phone calls. Parents should not call teachers at their home.
If questions or difficulties arise, parents first contact the teacher of the student. Open and honest communication between a parent and teacher usually clarifies or solves most situations. If the situation warrants it, the principal meets with the parent and teacher for the required conference.
AT NO TIME SHOULD A PARENT OR A PARENT VOLUNTEER GO TO A CLASSROOM DURING THE SCHOOL DAY TO DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS/CONCERNS ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL CHILD.
Each faculty member has a duty at dismissal time for about fifteen minutes in order to insure the safety of the students. Parents sometimes inadvertently take this time to pass on information to teachers or to chat about their children. Everyone can help by checking to see if a teacher has completed the duty assigned before communication is begun.
All visitors must sign in/check with the Main Office upon arrival. School volunteers are also asked to sign in so their presence is known to the staff. All visitors/volunteers are to wear a St. Agnes Visitor/Volunteer badge.
Under Act 89 of the Pennsylvania Legislature, remedial services are provided in the areas of Math, Reading, Speech and Language for those students who are eligible.
Individual and developmental group guidance services are also provided by this act and are available to all students. Consultative as well as referral services are also available upon request.
Instructional Support Team (I.S.T.)
This team, composed of specially trained school personnel, is available for consultation, intervention and supportive services upon request of a teacher, staff member, or parent for academic or behavioral issues.
An Individual Option Plan has been developed through the IST team to better support those students with learning differences or special needs. The IST team seeks to provide varied techniques to enhance the holistic education of each student.
The permanent record of a student is open to the parent and student. If a parent wants to view records of a child, he/she is asked to send in a written request to the school office for an appointment. In the case of non-custodial parents, the school, if requested, will provide a parent with access to the academic records and to other school-related information regarding the child. If there is a court order to the contrary, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the court order.
School records are forwarded to another school if officially requested by the parent, guardian or school. A stamped envelope addressed to the receiving school and a $5.00 processing fee is required.
Promotions and retentions are based on an evaluation of academic, physical, social, and emotional growth.
The main reasons for considering retention are:
- Indifference or lack of effort on the part of a capable student
- Physical or social immaturity
- Frequent or long absences that affect the student’s learning
- Not qualifying academically for the next grade (receiving below a 70 in two or more academic subjects)
Retention is usually considered as a more positive alternative during the primary grades. Proof of making up work must be presented before the beginning of the next school year. A Summer Program approved before time by the principal is a necessity for a student in grades 5 through 8 who fails 2 or more academic subjects.
Parents must state in writing their agreement or disagreement with the school’s decision to retain a student.
Student field trips are planned and coordinated at the discretion of the class teachers and approved by the principal. As is stipulated in the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Elementary Schools, “field trips do not include trips to the amusement park or any other purely recreational facility.” (P.455)
Educational field trips are planned to enhance the curriculum. Field trips are privileges offered to students. Students may be denied participation if they fail to meet academic or behavioral requirements. Also a parent has the right to refuse to allow a child to participate in a field trip. A student does not have the right to refuse to participate in a field trip. Students who do not go on a field trip for any reason must come to school. If the student fails to come to school the absence is unexcused.
Archdiocesan permission forms are sent home to the parent before the trip. If a student fails to get the form signed and returned, the student may not participate in the field trip. Telephone calls or letters simply stating that the student may go on the trip are not acceptable. In addition, adult chaperones, as needed, will accompany the class.
If a student has a serious medical condition as defined by the school nurse, a parent or someone designated by the parent must accompany the child on the trip. Please know your child’s safety and well-being is our major concern.
Since the school districts do not provide buses for field trips, a variable fee will be charged to cover the cost of transportation.
