Policy-Parent Overview

PARENT OVERVIEW

Parent/Student/Teacher Relations

The partnership between school and home is facilitated by the cooperation and support of both parents and teachers. Your cooperation and support are necessary for an effective discipline and guidance program. It is important not to place the child in opposition to the teacher, which may result in defiance and disrespect. Comments of disagreement heard or read by the student undermine the authority of parents and teachers. The following guidelines help maintain this partnership.

If your child comes home seriously upset about a school situation, we ask you to listen openly to him/her. We caution you not to offer an opinion until you have contacted the teacher involved in the situation. The approach in this situation is one of calm and passive listening. The time taken for this communication will show your interest in the child’s viewpoint. At the same time, the need to view the situation as completely as possible requires that the parent confer with the teacher openly.

If you disagree with a teacher’s action, please express your disagreement and concern directly to the teacher first by making a phone call and requesting a conference. The Assistant Principal will be part of this conference.

Interest in your child reinforces his/her interest in school. If you feel that your child is not working to his/her capacity, contact the homeroom teacher in order to arrive at a mutually agreed-upon program. Homework is for the child’s benefit, and should be done completely by him/her. It is most important that the child grow in independent study habits as he/she moves from grade to grade. The most effective means of assisting your child’s scholastic growth can be checking homework, reviewing for tests, and inquiring about projects, test results, and school activities.

Responsibility is something caught more than taught. If we exemplify responsibility, our children will practice it. We are not always able to communicate personally; therefore we ask you to value any communication and respond promptly if necessary.

Request to see test papers; SIGN papers when requested.

Attend all parent meetings of any nature, which have their origin in school.

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Parent-Teacher Conferences

Special consultations with any of the teachers of your child may be requested. Regular parent-teacher communication is important. Do not "stop by" the classroom to converse with the teacher. Class interruptions take time away from all involved. Set an appointment time. All parents and visitors must sign in at the Main Office during school hours.

Privacy Policy

The School of the Cathedral, in compliance with the Buckley Amendment of 1974 (Family Rights and Privacy Act) has the following policy regarding an individual's right to privacy:

Access to records

Teachers and other school officials who have legitimate educational interests have access to student education records.
Parents/legal guardians have access to their child's education records. Parents may contact the principal to schedule an appointment to review the records. A representative of the school must be present while the records are being reviewed.
In general any other person requesting access to a student's education record must have written permission unless the disclosure is otherwise authorized or required by law.
Non-custodial parents in the absence of a court order to the contrary will be provided access to the educational or legal agreement records and other school-related information regarding the students. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of any court orders or legal agreements regarding access to educational records.

Log

A log must be maintained for each request for access and each disclosure of educational record information other than disclosure to parents or students 18 or older or school officials.
The log should contain the name of the person, the date and the legitimate interests the person had in requesting or obtaining the information.

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Bulletins and Notices and Website

The Wednesday Bulletin is the school’s weekly newsletter. This bulletin provides you with pertinent information regarding upcoming school events and activities. Be sure that you receive your copy each week. This bulletin and most notices for the parents are sent home with each child in the family. Any information of interest to the school community may be included in this bulletin. To submit an announcement, please send a brief note to the School Office by 12 Noon on Friday for printing in the following week's Wednesday Bulletin.

The Report Card (newsletter) is mailed from the Office of Institutional Advancement four times a year. This attractive publication is sent to all parishioners, school families, and Cathedral alumni.

The School of the Cathedral website address is www.schoolofthecathedral.org Each teacher has a homepage which has information related to classes as well as homework. The parish website, www.cathedralofmary.org, is also very valuable for the school.

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Counseling

A school consultant (counselor) from Catholic Charities is available 4 days a week, Monday-Thursday. The purpose is to provide services that enhance our students' overall learning and social development, and in this role the school consultant will see individuals and groups of students, give classroom presentations, consult with faculty and families, and provide referrals to outside resources. Examples of the kind of issues that most often prompt individual meetings with the school consultant are: conflict or misunderstanding with a friend, sadness about a loss, anxiety about a test, needed assistance meeting school expectations, and overcoming normal childhood hurdles. Whenever supportive follow-up is indicated after the consultant sees a child, the parent/guardian will be contacted.

If parents/guardians do not wish to take advantage of these services, they must send a letter to that effect to the school principal.

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Family Directory

Each fall, the Cathedral School Parents Association (CASPA) prints a handbook/directory listing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of each family, as well as school policies, events, meeting dates, and other necessary school information. A copy of this directory is provided to each family. The directory's merit has been proven, but to avoid possible misuse by children all parents are asked to supervise its use. Please respect family privacy. Teachers are not to be called at home, unless prior permission to do so has been given.

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Health and Safety

1.	Emergency Information Card: Each student has an Emergency Information Card on file with the School Office. IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE FAMILY STATUS/AND OR THE CHILD'S NAME, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE SCHOOL BE INFORMED PROMPTLY OF THE CHANGE. Parents whose phone numbers are unlisted must give the school either the unlisted number or a number where the parents can be reached. It is essential that the school have this information in case of emergency. It will be kept in strictest confidence. Any change in phone number must be given to the school office and the homeroom teacher in writing within a week after the change occurs. It is imperative that the information provided is kept up-to-date by the child's parents/guardians.
2.	In case of a change in custody, a copy of the portion of the court order that names the custodial parents must be on file with the school.
3.	Each new student is given an official immunization record for immunization documentation. The form must have the month, day and year of each vaccination, be signed by a physician or health department official and approved by the school. A parent must show a medical contraindication, signed by a doctor, for a child to be excused. The form must be completed by a physician and returned to the school before the child may attend classes. Parents have the responsibility of seeing to their child's immunizations. Any child who does not have the necessary immunizations will be excluded from school until they are received. Physical examinations are required of all incoming students and for all sixth graders as they enter middle school.
4.	Scoliosis Screening Requirement: Maryland Law, effective July 1, 1982, mandates scoliosis screening for every student at least once in Grades six through eight. A student whose parent or legal guardian objects in writing to the screening is not required to be screened.
5.	Dispensing of medication: The administration of medication in school is discouraged. However, if a student's physician recommends that the student receive prescription or over-the-counter medication during the school day, a written order from the physician is required. Medication can only be dispensed with a written order from the student's physician, specifying the start and stop date. The original medication container or box for inhaler must be brought to school. These containers or boxes should include the following: Name of medication, directions for use, time for dispensing, name of doctor ordering, date of prescription, expiration date as stated by the pharmacist, strength of medication/dosage, and student's name and grade. Students may not possess, dispense, or distribute medication on their own. All medication must be delivered to the school by the parent/guardian. Calamine lotion and cough drops may be administered with a note from parents. Cough drops should be brought to school in the original package in a ziplock bag with the student's name on it. The package should be given to the teacher. Cough drops that contain an anesthetic will be kept in the nurse's office.
6.	Head Injury: If any injury to the head or any other serious injury occurs to the student, the nurse will call the parent and send home a report. The report is to be signed by the parent and returned to the school. If a parent or guardian cannot be reached in an emergency, the school will contact the police/ambulance for assistance.
7.	Allergies: Parents must notify school of their child's allergies, including food allergies. A school medication order must be renewed each year by the physician, and the order must be signed on or after July 1. If a student carries an EPIPEN, the physician must state this requirement.
8.	AHERA: In October 1986, The US Congress enacted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Under this law, comprehensive regulations were developed to address asbestos problems in public and private elementary and secondary schools. These regulations require most schools to inspect for friable and non friable asbestos, develop asbestos management plans that address asbestos hazards in school buildings and implement response actions in a timely manner. Our program for fulfilling these responsibilities is outlined in our asbestos management plan. This plan contains information on our inspections, re-inspections, response actions and post-response activities, including periodic surveillance activities that are planned or in progress. The plan is kept in the principal's office and may reviewed upon request during normal school business hours.
9.	Blood borne Pathogens: A complete Blood borne Pathogens Standard Exposure Control Plan has been established by the school and can be found in each Faculty Handbook and on file in the office. All staff are trained in and practice Universal Precautions when dealing with any bodily fluids.
10.	Child Abuse and Neglect: Maryland law requires that all educators and other school employees, including volunteers, report suspected child abuse or neglect to the proper authorities in order that children may be protected from harm and the family may be helped. Our school policy supports Maryland laws in this regard and requires that all school staff report suspected abuse and neglect to the Department of Social Services, Protective Services Division, and/or the local police department.
11.	The school has a comprehensive emergency plan in conjunction with the Parish Center for emergencies of all types.

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Attendance: Absences and Late Arrivals

Students in a Catholic school must comply with Maryland State Law concerning compulsory attendance. The law requires regular attendance during the school year. Students are held accountable for time/s they are absent from school. Students are to be in homeroom before 8:05 a.m. Students arriving late to school ten (10) or more times per trimester will be required to serve an after-school detention.

Unlawful absences are considered truant. The school informs parents that if truancy persists, the public authorities will be notified.

More than 20 days absence per year is considered excessive. Excess of 20 days may require retention or summer school. It is the responsibility of the homeroom teacher to investigate as well as to notify the administration regarding repeated absences.

A student can only be marked "Present" if he/she is physically in school.

When a student has a chronic or intermittent health problem, parents should contact the Local Educational Agency (LEA) for Home and Hospital Services.

Children late in arriving to school must stop at the Main Office and sign in. Children leaving school early must be signed out by a parent or guardian.

A student is marked absent a half-day if arriving after 10:30 a.m. or leaving prior to 12:30 p.m.

Teachers are required to make sure that attendance records are accurate. Absences for more than three days require a phone call from the School Nurse or the homeroom teacher.

Parents are required to call in a child's absence from school and provide a written note on return to school.

Vacations are strongly discouraged during the school year. Students must make up all missed work.

If a child is absent due to a contagious disease, the School Nurse must be notified immediately. In this way, the homeroom teacher can be alerted to possible outbreaks of the disease in other students. Before the child can return to class, he/she must have a Doctor's Release for School.

Homework Pick-Up for Absentees
Homework for absentees will not be available for pick-up until 2:45 p.m. Please do not request to pick up books, papers, and work earlier than 2:45 p.m. All work will be placed on the shelf outside the office.

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Fire and Evacuation Drills

Fire/evacuation drills are conducted periodically throughout the school year during suitable weather.

Safety Patrol

The Safety Patrol is used for crossing and traffic directions. Please respect the Safety Patrol in the performance of their duties. Radios, earphones, cell phones, etc. are not permitted in the school unless they are part of a project the student is presenting.

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Morning Prayers

At opening prayers each morning, the names of families and staff members will be mentioned along with the intentions of the day. The prayers and good works of the student body will be offered for those mentioned that day. The date for your family is included in this Directory. Refer to the School Calendar. If there is a calendar change due to inclement weather, the names will be moved to the following day. Parents are asked to remember these families in their daily prayers.

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Snow and Inclement Weather

All official announcements regarding school closings, late openings, early closings, or emergencies are made in WJZ-TV as well as other local television stations and radio stations. The School of the Cathedral follows the same procedure as the Baltimore County Public Schools for early dismissal or closing. The only exception is for late opening.

If Baltimore County opens 1 hour or 2 hours late, Cathedral will open 1 hour late at 8:55 a.m.

Students may begin to arrive at 8:30 a.m. if necessary. In the event that, after Baltimore County announces a 2-hour late opening, it then announces it is closing, all students already at school must be picked up no later than 10:00 a.m. When Baltimore County announces an early closing, Cathedral will close accordingly:

1 hour early means that Cathedral will close at 1:45 p.m.
2 hours early means that Cathedral will close at 12:45 p.m.
3 hours early means that Cathedral will close at 11:45 a.m.

Parents should arrive to pick up their children as promptly as possible. The children will remain in the school lobby or gym under adult supervision until they are picked up. If there is a concern about road conditions, a child may leave for the day after the parent reports to the School Office. At all times it is the parents' decision to send children to school in adverse weather conditions. Every effort will be made to communicate as thoroughly as possible with paretns regarding early closing. When feasible, a flier indicating that school may close early due to expected adverse weather conditions will be distributed to parents at morning drop-off. A group e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address you provided to the school also announcing any early closings. Please do not call the School Office or the Parish Center.

SNOW CLOSINGS E-MAIL ALERT

Since many parents work and do not have access to a radio or television during the day, we suggest that you sign up with either WBAL or Schools Out for an e-mail alert on Baltimore County school closings.

Here's how to sign up for Snow Closing Alerts:

For Schools Out go to http://www.schoolsout.com
Click on "Services" from the menu across the top
Scroll down and select “School’s Out Basic” which is a FREE e-mail alert service.
Step 1- “Choose the school you want to receive e-mail notices from”-- Choose Maryland, then choose BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Step 2- Enter your e-mail address
Hit “Subscribe Me” button at the bottom and you will be signed up

For WBAL go to http://www.thewbalchannel.com/closings/index.html, scroll to the bottom and follow the directions for e-mail alerts from WBAL also using Baltimore County Public Schools as the system for the alert.

CED SNOW POLICY

If early closing is announced by Baltimore County Public Schools, CED will close at 4:00 p.m.

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Transportation and Traffic

By car:
In the morning, parents are to drive through the parking lot, around the circle, and then drop off the children at the main entrance of the school. Children may be dropped off beginning at 7:30 a.m. In the afternoon, cars must be parked in the parking lot closest to School. Children will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. through the side entrance and the Safety Patrol will cross them. Only when all cars are parked will the children be permitted to leave the sidewalk to enter the cars. Drivers must follow the directions given by the Safety Patrol. Buckle up! Please note that the circle in front of the school will be closed to traffic at 2:35 p.m. until dismissal has been completed. NO PARKING IN THE CIRCLE during the following times: 7:30-8:10 a.m. and 2:15-3:00 p.m.

By bike:
Children riding bicycles to school must park and lock them in the area designated for that purpose inside the school building. Bike riders are to enter and exit the School grounds in the same manner as cars. Bike riders must follow the directions given by the Safeties.

On foot:
All children who walk and cross Charles Street must cross at Amberly Way or Enfield Road under the direction of the Crossing Guards. Children are not permitted to walk through any of the wooded areas or fields.

By public bus:
The #11 bus on Charles Street and the #44 on Northern Parkway are the closest public bus lines to the school. A MTA bus card will be given to any student on request at the office.

No child is to be dropped off or picked up on Amberly Way or in front of the Cathedral. Parents are to follow CED policy for CED pick-up

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Field Trips

Field trips are considered an integral part of the school educational program and a valuable learning experience for students. Field trips are held at various times during the school year. A list of field trips and related costs is sent home in the early Fall. All trips are prepaid in one lump sum. In advance of the trip, a permission form, required by the Archdiocese Division of Catholic Schools, is sent home. A student will be permitted to attend the trip only if the permission slip is signed by the parent or guardian and returned to the teacher by the specified date. The field trip permission form is also available online. The teacher must be informed if the student will not participate in the field trip experience. A student kept home will be marked absent. Parents are encouraged to participate on field trips as chaperones as the need arises. However, due to safety and liability factors, preschool siblings and other school-age siblings are not allowed.

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Birthday Invitations

In order to exemplify kindness and respect for all students, the School's policy regarding birthday celebrations is as follows: If your child is having a birthday party outside of school, invitations may not be distributed at school unless all members of the class are invited.

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School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
111 Amberly Way
Baltimore, Maryland 21210
410-464-4100 Fax: 410-464-4137