Sunset School Year Handbook 2008
INTRODUCTION
Sunset Goal
The goal of Sunset is to provide a caring, safe, quality program for school-aged children.
1. School office 320-251-2376
2. Fax 320-529-3222
3. Sunset Phone 320-529-3227
Administration
Pastors: Fr. Tony Oelrich, Pastor
Fr. Aaron Kuhn, Associate Pastor
Principal: Ms. Patricia Lindeman, Ed.S.
Sunset Director: Mrs. Nancy Kalscheuer
School Board
St. Augustine-St. Mary’s Cathedral School Advisory Committee exists to form policies specifically for St. Augustine- St. Mary’s School. The School Advisory Committee consists of seven elected members, the Pastors and the Principal. These are open meetings. Appointment of committee members is held during the first quarter of the calendar year.
Enrollment
Children in Grades K-6 who will be attending St. Augustine and St. Mary’s Cathedral School.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS
Hours
Sunset will operate Monday – Friday, during the hours of 3:00p.m. – 5:30p.m. Each family using Sunset must fill out a monthly calendar. After 5:30p.m., the answering machine/voice mail is available for any messages. Someone will contact you as soon as possible. Sunset will not be offered on days when school is not in session, whether scheduled or un-scheduled. When school dismisses early due to inclement weather, there will be no Sunset.
Parents of children not picked up by 5:30 will be charged and additional $1.00 per minute that they are late. The director or designate will be the final authority on the pick-up time. The student(s) pick-up time will be documented by the director or designate.
Fees
Sunset fee structure will be as follows:
$10.00 Non-refundable registration fee per family will be added to your fist month’s bill.
$7.00 per day for each child picked up after 4:00p.m.
$2.00 per day for each child picked up before 4:00p.m.
Payments must be made at the end of each week to the Sunset staff. Statements will be sent out periodically through the year to show you an accounting of your hours used and amounts paid. The Sunset Director reserves the right to not accept students if accounts are not current.
It is a policy that family and student accounts are kept current. The administration, with the direction of the finance committee, carries out this policy. The School Advisory Committee approves the schedule of tuition and fee payments set forth in the school’s bulletin of information. Tuition and fee payments are subject to the conditions specified in the enrollment contract, unless a special arrangement has been made with the principal.
Grades will be withheld for students whose tuition, lunch, sunset, and sunrise accounts have not been paid in full by the last day of school. All exceptions to this procedure must be approved by the principal.
(School Advisory Committee Policy: 5/17/07)
Parents/ guardians are informed of the programs, regulations, and policies of the school.
In assisting your child, we require the following:
Sunset program.
4. Support and help the fundraising efforts, which include the flower sale.
5. Help the oldest child to be responsible in bringing home Sunset communications and returning any
necessary communications to Sunset promptly the next scheduled day of attendance. Please be sure to read all communications sent home.
6. Provide constructive comments to Sunset staff.
As a Sunset parent, you are encouraged to offer comments and suggestions to help us continue improving our program. If you have a concern, contact the person closest to the concern, (ie. Sunset staff or Principal.) A solution can usually be found through a conference or a phone call. If you prefer to express your concern in a letter, direct it to the person closest to the concern. If the situation is not resolved, the parent should seek help at the next level, (ie. Sunset staff with Principal, Principal with School Board.) The final step for resolution within the program is a request by the parent for a closed hearing with the Principal and the School Advisory Committee.
7. Meet admissions regulations. This includes submitting the following completed forms:
8. Comply with:
handbook
9. No student may leave the premises at any time for any reason without a written request
from the custodial parent/guardian and approval of the director.
ATTENDANCE
It is St. Augustine and St. Mary’s Cathedral School and Sunset policy that:
When picking your child/children up, please sign your child/children out and inform a Sunset staff member that you are leaving.
School Closing (emergency or inclement weather)
District 742 Transportation Department in collaboration with the Superintendent makes the decision relating to school closings or delays due to inclement weather. You are asked to listen to the radio (KCLD-1450 or WJON-1200AM) to find out whether school will be in session, or if already in session, whether school will dismiss early. We also encourage you to tune in to WCCO T.V. Channel 4, ABC-Channel 5, UPN 9, or KARE 11 T.V. We encourage you to discuss with your child the procedure to follow, should you not be at home and we ask that you fill out an emergency contact card annually in the event we have to contact a guardian other than yourself.
No announcement means that school is in session. We follow the decision made by St. Cloud School District #742. During bad weather a child’s safety is most important.
Reminder: SUNSET is not available when school closes early.
A child may not call home to make arrangements to go home with a friend.
Sunset is not responsible for the loss of personal possessions; therefore students are to
responsible for their own belongings.
student’s name and the purpose of the money.
Lost and Found
Lost items will be kept in the lost and found area of the Sunset. Encourage students to check for
lost items in the lost and found area when something is missing. Unclaimed items will be donated to local charities at the end of the year.
The Sunset handbook is issued upon admission to the program. A sign off sheet needs to be returned.
To help with the lines of communication between Sunset staff and parents/guardians the following
actions should be taken:
make an appointment with the director.
the principal. At that time, a meeting with the director, student, principal, and parents/
guardians may be called.
make an appointment with the Pastor.
who will decide whether to pursue the concern.
Snack Program
A snack will be provided at 4:00p.m. each day.
Individual and group pictures are taken often throughout the summer. If you do not wish for your child/children to be in photos, please let Sunset staff know, ask for and sign the waiver.
Children may not come in without supervisor’s permission (a pass is needed).
1. The following activities are not allowed:
(Will be assigned depending upon severity of violation and at the discretion of the supervisor)
1. First Violation-Time out and warning. Behavior Improvement form filled
out. (Copy sent home to parents.)
2. Second Violation-Stay in during recess time (1 day) from the playground. Parent notified.
3. Third Violation-Stay in during recess (2 days) from the playground. Parent notified.
4. Fourth Violation-In school suspension or recess revoked indefinitely (principal’s discretion). Parent
notified.
For safety reasons, behavior that endangers the student himself or other student is not allowed. Some examples are:
In order to maintain a Catholic learning environment, it is necessary to have a discipline policy which provides a safe and secure setting for students, faculty, and administration. Students are given clear and specific expectations as they are led toward becoming self-disciplined individuals. Students are responsible
and accountable for the consequences of their behavior.
Infractions
Minor Misconduct
Your Sunset staff will establish guidelines for Sunset behavior. The Sunset staff will manage minor misconduct or infractions. Discipline for minor misconduct may include verbal warning, written warning, and detention. Samples of minor misconduct include but are not limited to:
Repeated occurrences may result in suspension or expulsion.
Major Misconduct
Student conduct, which in the opinion of the Sunset program constitutes major misconduct, will result in removal from Sunset, suspension, or expulsion. Major misconduct includes but is not limited to the following:
Repeated occurrences may result in suspension, or expulsion.
Removal from Sunset is any action taken by a Sunset staff member or administrator to prohibit a student from attending his/her Sunset period for a period of not more than one day.
Sunset Suspension Process:
suspension.
Expulsion means action taken by the Sunset staff to prohibit an enrolled pupil from further attendance at the program.
Sunset Expulsion Process:
An exit interview will be scheduled with the parents/guardians when the student is expelled. A written notice of expulsion will be provided.
The use of tobacco in any form by Sunset students during Sunset hours, on the property while riding on the bus, or while attending any Sunset sponsored function will result in confiscation of the tobacco product and disciplinary action by the Sunset Director.
If any student attending Sunset is found:
The principal, in such an instance, will:
2. Immediately notify the parents/guardians of their child’s suspension.
5. Refer the parents/ guardians and student to an appropriate counseling agency for evaluation.
Harassment is uninvited and unwelcomed behavior which interferes with a student’s right to participate in Sunset activities. Words and conduct that offend, stigmatize, or demean a student is harassment.
This type of harassment is behavior that interferes with an individual’s working/learning performance
or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning/working environment. These include:
What to do if harassed:
can also be done in written form. If this is too difficult to be done, the student should seek
help from a Sunset staff person, parent, friend, and/or school principal.
Reporting sexual or other harassment will not affect grades or assignments. Both the reporter and the accused have the right to confidentiality.
3. After an investigation that results in a determination that there has been a violation of the
harassment policy, the harasser will be subject to the discipline code, which may include suspension, expulsion and/or police involvement. An adult will be subject to legal charge.
The Sunset Director or designate has the right to search backpacks and other articles of personal property as long as the student is on the property. There will always be two officials conducting any search.
Any confiscated item(s) will not be returned to the student(s) or parent(s). Items are to be kept by the administration as evidence.
NO radios, electronic music devices, pagers, electronic games, or picture taking devices are allowed at Sunset during the school day, unless special permission is granted by the principal. Possession or use of this type of equipment in the school before the end of the school day will result in the removal of the equipment from the student. Confiscated material must be retrieved by parents. Tapes and CD’s should not be brought to school.
If a student must bring a cell phone into the school, it must remain turned off and put away (out of sight) at all times during Sunset hours. Any use of cell phones during Sunset is strictly forbidden, unless permission is granted by the Principal and the call is placed in the Sunset office. Any student in violation of this policy will have the phone confiscated. It will be the parents’ responsibility to retrieve the phone from the Principal. (School Advisory Committee Policy: 5/17/07)
Students and non-students, including adults, and visiting youth, are forbidden to possess, store, transmit,
or use any instrument that is considered a weapon or a look-a-like weapon in school, on school grounds, at school activities, at bus stops, on school buses or school vehicles or school contracted vehicles, or
entering upon or departing from school premises, property or events. Students who violate this
policy will be subject to expulsion.
Sunset takes the position of zero tolerance on real and look-like weapons, including,
but not limited to:
It is important to have vehicles in place, which promote and celebrate good behavior and student
behavior and student success. Positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior and success may include but is not limited to the following: award certificates, stickers, etc…
SunsetStaff are not allowed to administer any over the-counter medication, including aspirin, Tylenol, cough drops, etc… to any student, for any reason.
If your student is allergic to bee stings, we need to have an epipen here should the need ever arise.
When a student is ill, the student must be clear of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hrs. before returning to sunset. Additionally, students must have a 98.6 temperature for 24 hrs. prior to returning to Sunset.
The Sunset staff dismisses or approves the dismissal of a student who becomes ill or injured during the Sunset day. Parents/guardians are notified when the illness or injury is reported. If they are unable to come for the student, they must make arrangements for a relative or other authorized person to pick-up the student at Sunset. No student will be sent home due to illness if no one is at home to be with the student. In the case of a severe injury, emergency personnel will be called.
Reporting of Child Abuse/Neglect
The staff members of Sunset are legally required to follow the requirements of the Minnesota
Law pertaining to reporting child neglect and/or which may be summarized as follows:
Staff members are required by law to report a suspected case of child abuse/neglect to
the local law enforcement agency or social service agency. This must be done if they
know of or have reason to believe there is abuse or neglect presently or has been within
past three years. A written report must be filed within 72 hours of the verbal report.
*Again, all staff members are mandated reporters. This is not an option.
Neglect is defined as failure to provide food, clothing, shelter or medical care and prenatal exposure
to controlled substance;
Abuse can be physical or sexual abuse, or emotional maltreatment
General Admission
It is the policy of St. Augustine and St. Mary’s Cathedral Sunset Program to comply with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination, to the end that no person(s) shall be denied or excluded from enrollment or participation in any educational program or activity operated by the school on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, martial status, status with regard to public assistance, or disability.
Students are accepted in the following priority: current K-6 students.
DRESS CODE
Sunset has established appropriate dress codes and policies. Approved changes and additions will be communicated in a Sunset newsletter.
To aid in promoting a learning atmosphere in our program, and to help children realize that there are certain types of dress acceptable for certain types of occasions, we ask parents to cooperate by insisting that children wear proper clothes. It is expected that children come to Sunset clean and well groomed. According to State Law, shoes must be worn at all times. Tennis shoes are to be worn daily while in the gym.
The following clothing may not be worn to Sunset: shirts with inappropriate writing or graphics, wide pants, pocket chains, clogs, halters, long dangling earrings, make up, etc.
Toys
Students are not allowed to bring their own toys or electronics to Sunset. This includes dolls stuffed animals, portable players, handheld games etc.
GrievancePolicyS519.10
***Student discipline is not covered by this policy. Student discipline includes suspension/expulsion.
Any parent of a child at Sunset is encouraged to offer suggestions and input to assist the school in carrying out its mission. A solution can usually be found by contacting the person closest to the concern.
Policy: If a matter cannot be resolved at the above level, the parent may file a formal complaint by:
A. Stating the concern in writing to the Sunset Director or Principal of the school. The complaint will be logged in an Incident Report. A response will be made within (10) days after the receipt of the complaint. *
B. If a dispute has not been settled satisfactorily at this level, the parent has the right to appeal in writing to the School Advisory Committee.
C. At the next regularly scheduled School Advisory Committee meeting, the School Advisory Committee, Pastor and Principal will hear the grievance in executive session with the parent. The decision of the School Advisory Committee is final.
*The term “days” shall mean days other than Saturdays Sundays, religious and legal holidays.
Policy Adopted: April, 1996 St. Augustine School Board
Amended: April 20th, 1998 St. Cloud, MN
Federal Programs include:
State Income Tax Deductions – Taxpayers who itemize deductions may claim deductions for childcare. This amount may vary from year to year. Please refer to your state Income Tax Manual’s directions.
Updating Policies
The Director in collaboration with the Principal has the right to change policy at any time without giving notice.
After reading the Sunset Handbook please sign below and return this form to the school office. Thank You.
We have received and read the Sunset Handbook and agree to be governed by the policies contained herein.
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Student Signature
__________________________________ Date ______________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature