STCS communicates with parents in several ways:

School to Parent

1. Parent Update (monthly newsletter, sent home the last Friday of each month)
    

2. Report Cards
    

3. Interim Reports (sent home midway through each grading period for students who may be experiencing some difficulty in a class)
    

4. Memos from the principal
    

5. Grades K-4 (weekly teacher letters)
    

6. Parent-Teacher conferences
    

7. Phone call to parent addressing specific issues 

Parent to School

1. Send a note with your specific request or concern addressed to whom it is to be delivered (i.e. office, teacher, etc.)
    

2. Phone call to school and leave a message for the person with whom you wish to speak
    

3. Parent conference (may be scheduled by appointment)
    

4. Participation in A.C.E meetings (parent/teacher association)

   • Do not plan an extended meeting with a teacher, including phone conversation, before, during or after school without an appointment.

Alliance for Catholic Education (A.C.E.)

The Alliance for Catholic Education (A.C.E.) of STCS is composed of parents of students and faculty members.  The officers of the organization include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Faculty Representative.

Requests for nomination are solicited from the membership in March by a letter to all returning families.  Nominations will be presented at the April A.C.E. meeting.  Officers will be elected from these nominees at the April meeting.  The purpose of the Alliance is to be of service to STCS and to provide a better understanding between home and school.  An important function of A.C.E. is raising funds for the school.  The Alliance has set the following objectives:

• To promote open communication among the parents, faculty, and administration.
   

• To promote clearer understanding of the mutual educational responsibilities of parents and teachers.
   

• To encourage family involvement and participation in spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical programs of the school.
   

• To offer through well planned programs, information and entertainment of particular interest to parents.
   

• To encourage and cultivate high standards of Catholic family life.
   

• To engender a greater appreciation of Catholic education.

The Alliance of Catholic education will have a representative from the Executive Committee on the governing Board.  The Alliance for Catholic Education is solely supported by the volunteer efforts of its membership.  Please take an active role in your child’s education.
 

There are monthly meetings.  Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month.  Anyone wishing to address the general membership should contact a member of the Executive Committee two weeks prior to the meeting.  Unless exempted by the presiding officer, member’s speeches shall be limited to three minutes.

Parental Appeal

Parents have the right to appeal school decisions affecting their children.  In keeping with Catholic Church’s Principle of Subsidiarity, problems and concerns should be solved at the lowest level.
 

Before initiating a formal appeal, parents are encouraged to dialogue with the individual(s) with whom they hold a grievance.  Failure to comply with this policy could result in delay of the resolution of the grievance.

• In the case of a teacher, parents should first consult with the teacher before conferring with the principal.
   

• In the case of a principal, parents should first consult with the principal.
   

• When attempts at dialogue do not result in a resolution at the local level, the case may be formally appealed to the Board of Directors.  Appeals to the Board of Directors must be in writing, addressed to the President of the Board.  The Board at its next scheduled meeting will address the written appeal.  The Board may request a verbal presentation.

Birthday Parties

Parents having a party for their child to which the entire class is not invited should extend invitations by phone or by mail and not distribute them at school.  When the entire class is invited, it is the responsibility of the student to distribute the invitations.  Parents bringing special snacks to school should make arrangements beforehand with the classroom teacher.

Office Hours

Lost & Found

The Lost and Found box is located in the office.  This box is emptied at the end of each month.  Unmarked uniforms are given to the Uniform Closet and non-uniform items are given to the missions.  Please clearly mark all of your children’s clothing items, as well as lunch boxes and book bags.
 

STCS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PERSONAL ITEMS OF VALUE THAT ARE LEFT ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR IN THE BUILDING.

Educational Trips

Educational trips serve as an important aspect of our school curriculum.  The trip usually has direct application to a unit of work studied by the students in a certain grade level during the school year.  Adequate preparation for the trip is made with the class to indicate the nature of the trip, its purpose, things to be observed and/or recorded, and any special plans or requirements for the trip.
 

The parent of each child who participates in any given field trip must sign a permission slip.  Verbal permission by phone or faxed permission slips will not suffice for any field trip.  If a child lacks this permission, he/she will not be permitted to leave the school grounds.  Deadlines will be strictly adhered to for permission slips and fees.  No exceptions will be made.

When parents are divorced and there is joint custody, both parents must give consent for special off campus events.  One parent may give general permission for the other parent to give permission.
 

The administration, with faculty consultation, reserves the right to deny a student a particular trip for disciplinary reasons or for the common good or safety of the group.  When paying for field trips, please send a check or exact change (for each child) in an envelope with the child’s name, the amount enclosed, and the name of the field trip on the outside.  Teachers do not have the means to make change for students.
 

Any student not attending field trips will be required to be in school with assignments to be completed throughout the day with adult supervision.

Students will be properly supervised while at school and/or school-sponsored activities.

 Supervision will be provided as follows:

1. During normal school hours
    

2. During school-sponsored activities on and off campus
    

3. Children are to be picked up after school by 3:15 p.m., Monday - Thursday and by 2 p.m. on Fridays.

Assignment Notebooks

Terms and Conditions for Technology & Internet Use

Philosophy
The STCS has access to technology, computers, networks, and the Internet.  This is a means by which students can get access to information of a truly global nature.  It allows all of us in the STCS community to find, harmonize, and share information in a variety of ways.
 

Curriculum will be guided by the same Gospel values that govern every other aspect of school life.  The value of good judgment and Christian responsibility in the use of the Internet is expected of all students, faculty, and staff.
 

Terms and Conditions

• Abide by copyright law.  The STCS does not condone and specifically forbids the unauthorized duplication of software and related documentation.
   

• Never write or share a password!
   

• Never alter technology equipment unless instructed to do so.
   

• All network communication must be polite, kind, and free from inappropriate language.
   

• Electronic communications are not guaranteed to be private.
   

• Attempts to tamper with other people’s data or gain unauthorized access to accounts or files on the network, including the Internet is not permitted and is unethical.
   

• Personal addresses, phone numbers, and financial information shall not be included in external electronic communication.
   

• Questions concerning any use of any technology resource should be addressed to the STCS technology staff.

Disciplinary Action
Misuse and abuse of technology privileges (including, Internet access) will result in disciplinary action.

Fees & Tuition

Fees and tuition payments are required from families of children who attend the STCS.  STCS will make every effort to see that no one is denied access to a Catholic education based solely on lack of funds to pay tuition.  The degree to which STCS can subsidize those who are unable to pay may vary each year as a direct result of the school budget. 

Anyone requesting financial assistance (in whole or in part) should contact the school secretary for a financial aid application.  This matter will remain confidential.  The School and Student Service for Financial Aid, an independent service, will review financial information and recommend the amount for tuition assistance.
 

Tuition Payment Options:

Tuition can be paid according to two (2) options:

• Annual Payment - Due by August 15.
   

• SMART Tuition - The first installment of tuition is due August 1.  Monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual     payments may be made with SMART tuition.  Parents are responsible for making payments on time.  The SMART Tuition representative may be reached at 1-800-SMART-03.

School Telephone

All visitors shall report to the school office upon arrival at the school.  This is for the protection of all concerned and for the orderly operation of the school.  Parents are permitted to visit the classrooms.  Arrangements are to be made with the teacher and/or principal.
 

Classes begin promptly at 8 a.m.  No visitors are permitted in the classroom without the expressed consent of the principal and/or teacher.  Parents who wish to have their child visit STCS on a school day are to submit a written request to the principal.  All visitors, including parents who are working in the school, are to sign the Volunteer/Visitor log in the School Office upon arriving and when leaving the school.

Parent Volunteer Program

Parents are expected to assist in reduce operating costs and assist the school financially to provide enrichment opportunities for students.  Parents will be given an option to volunteer a total of 40 hours of time and purchase $300 worth of grocery certificates per month for ten months or make a one-time donation of $150.
 

Volunteer positions will vary each year according to school needs.  A list will be included in the registration packet indicating positions for the following year.  As the year progresses, other opportunities will be indicated by A.C.E.

Volunteers are to adhere to a strict code of confidentiality with respect to information regarding teachers, students, and/or their families.  Volunteers are to be professional in demeanor and dress at all times while representing St. Therese Catholic School.
 

Volunteer hours will be logged in each family’s folder and totals for each family will be available in the office twice a year.

Board of Directors

The Board will have five to seven members appointed by the bishop for three-year terms;  This includes the representative for the A.C.E. Executive committee who has a year term.

The Board will elect a secretary who will be responsible for writing the minutes of each meeting and will be custodian of the minutes.  The Board members will elect a treasurer who together with the finance committee will prepare the annual budget and present it to the governing Board for approval.  Financial planning to include debts and operational expenditures will be the responsibility of the entire Board.  the governing Board will determine policies related to tuition.  Financial reports will be submitted to the Diocesan Office of Finance.

The Board will oversee the administration of the school and hire the principal.  The Board members will cooperate with the Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Pueblo in the discharge of her (his) duties as this pertain to curriculum, pedagogy and adherence to THE GUIDELINE AND PROCEDURES FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
 

The governing Board will meet monthly.  The principal will attend the meeting to give reports on the status of the school.  Monthly Board meetings will be open to those who wish to attend.

Protocols for placement on the agenda of the meetings of the Board of Directors for St. Therese Catholic School are as follows:

1. Requests for placement on the agenda are to be made no later than 5 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the next scheduled Board meeting, or one week prior to the scheduled meeting.  Meetings are currently scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 1001 N Grand Avenue.  It would be well to check with a Board member to verify time and place.  Requests for placement on the agenda are to be given to the president of the Board.  Please state the purpose of your request.
    

2. A total of 30 minutes will be allowed for input from guests with a limit of 5 minutes per individual.
    

3. The Board will not be open to hear negative criticisms of any individual or group of individuals but will be open to suggestions and positive constructive criticism.
    

4. A Christian ethical demeanor will always be expected.