I.  ACADEMICS 

Scholastics

 The Archdiocesan Graded Courses of Study for the respective areas are the official school district documents prescribing what shall be taught based on program, philosophy, goals and objectives.   

Students are expected to maintain a C average in order to be promoted to the next grade level and to participate in extra-curricular activities. Summer school or private tutoring may be required for students with less than a C average.   

Homework is assigned nightly.  It is expected of all students that homework be completed and turned in on appropriate due dates.  Lack of homework or incomplete assignments impede learning.  Assignment notebooks are required of each student as a good tool for study skills.   

Curriculum

 St. Albert the Great School follows a Graded Course of Study, which is provided by the Archdiocesan Office of Education. This document contains the Philosophy of Education approved by the Archdiocesan Commission on Education and provides goals and objectives for each of the areas of study. A copy of this document is on file in the office and is available for review by any parent.  

St. Albert the Great School curriculum is: Religion, Language Arts, Reading, Math, Science, Health, Social Studies, Art, Music, and Physical Education.  Technology is integrated into the curriculum, not taught as a separate subject.

Church 

Liturgical celebrations are a very important part of the school week. The liturgies and prayer services are planned by the teachers and students and are for growth and spiritual development of the entire school community.  

Students are required to enter church in a reverent manner. Any inappropriate behavior will be treated in a very serious way.  

Parents and family members are always invited to attend these celebrations. Please refrain from taking pictures or video taping during Mass. 

Sunday liturgy participation is expected from the St. Albert the Great parents and students.

 Religious Education Policy 

The Religious Education Program at St. Albert the Great School is based on a philosophy of Catholic Christian Life. The teachers, parents and students work hand-in-hand to live a life of Christian faith, hope and love. The parents are the primary religious educators of their children. With parents and teachers building a foundation of positive religious attitudes, the students can establish a deep personal relationship with God.  

The religion program is designed to provide quality education in a daily, Catholic atmosphere.  

The doctrines, beliefs, oral teachings and the heritage of the Catholic Church are taught in ways designed to best help today's students. The program presents and emphasizes teachings at the proper age levels according to the curriculum guides of the Archdiocese.

To help build the Catholic Christian community, all students, grades I through 8, attend weekly Masses. Students are actively involved in planning and participating in Mass. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend these celebrations as a witness to the importance of the Mass and as a support to their child.  

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available during class time during Lent.  Parents are invited to attend the parish-wide services offered during Advent and Lent with the entire family.  

Prayer Services and Bible Services are also part of the religious experience of the children. Parents are always welcome at the community celebrations and the time and dates are included in the weekly newsletters.  

The following sacraments are received for the first time in each of the corresponding grades:

·        First Communion - Grade 2  

·        Reconciliation - Grade 3

·        Confirmation - Grade 8  

Christian community is established as an important part of our life. We observe the Church seasons, holy days, sacrament preparation, vocation and mission awareness and daily prayers over STAL Channel 5, our school station.  

Christian service is an important part of our Catholic teaching. We strive to help the students become aware of their obligation to reach out and to help others as active members of the Christian community. Service opportunities for all students are available during the course of the school year. Each class/grade will sponsor at least one service project during the year in addition to school-wide projects. Junior high students spend a morning in the community helping others.

Catholic education in ongoing, parent information programs are offered at the time the child is preparing for reception of a sacrament for the first time. It is necessary for parents to attend these meetings:

1. To learn what the child is being taught,
2. To understand what their responsibilities are in the preparation process,
3. To learn how preparation fits into the faith life of their family and the Church. 

Class Size

 It will be attempted to maintain the following class sizes to allow the philosophy of education and the educational goals of the school to be fulfilled:

1.      Preschool will be in accordance with state requirements.

2.      Kindergarten through fourth grade will have a 1 to 25 teacher/student ratio.

3.      Grades five through eight will have a 1 to 30 teacher/student ratio.

4.      Parish Council and School Administrators have the authority to make changes to class size.

 Homework 

Homework is defined as a student's out-of-class assignment given in a subject area. This assignment is of such a nature that the student must complete all or part of the assignment during non-class time. Homework may fall into one of four categories: practice, preparation, extension, or creative.  

It is the responsibility of the student to complete assigned homework. Parents should recognize the important role of homework and should make themselves aware of the assignments and expectations of the school and individual teacher.   Parents may provide support and encouragement but should never complete a student's homework for them.

 Suggested homework time is:

Kindergarten -           15 minutes, one night a week 

Grade I -                     20 minutes, 2 nights a week  

Grade 2 -                    15 to 30 minutes, 4 nights per week

Grade 3 -                    Homework should be completed in 30-45 minutes, 4 times a week excluding long range projects.  

Grade 4 -                    Homework should be completed in 45-60 minutes,4 times a week excluding long range projects. 

Grade 5 -                    Students should be reading each evening for 15 to 30 minutes. All other work is assigned during class and time is given to work on it. Students should not be working longer than 60 minutes each evening. If they do, check with the teacher. 

Grade 6 - 8                Students should be reading every evening.  Homework depends on the daily work in each class. A number of projects are long term and should be worked on each night.  

The “Homework Hotline” is an additional way to communicate with your child's teacher. Assignments are recorded on the Hotline for Grades 1-5.  Refer to your St. Albert the Great phone book for assigned numbers. Teachers have the option to use the Hotline or their staff Web Page for daily, weekly or for long-term assignments. The Hotline or Web Page should not take the place of the student using an assignment notebook. Homework remains the responsibility of the student.  

In the event that your child is absent, you must request that his/her homework is gathered and delivered to a certain location. This should be done when you call your child in as absent.  

Report Cards

Each student receives a report card at the end of each quarter (kindergarten only at the semester). They are to be studied by the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student together. Comments should be written on the report card, signed by the parent(s), and returned to school within one week after distribution.

Grading Scales

  Retention Policy

 General

1. Retention may be considered for any student whose absences during one school year exceed twenty (20) days.  Fifteen or more accumulated absences will require a doctor’s written verification of illness.
2. Parents of students who are experiencing academic difficulty will be notified at the end of the first semester and a mandatory conference will be held. Parents of students who are in danger of being retained will be notified by the third quarter midterm.
3. If a student has an average of 69% or below in any of the above listed subject, he/she may avoid retention by:

                      a.     Receiving tutoring in the subject by a certified teacher (one who holds a current State of Ohio teaching certificate.)    

   Or

   2. Attending a certified/recognized/accredited summer school program, which provides tutoring in the specific subject area.
4. Promotion to the next grade will only be considered if the student successfully completes the tutoring/summer school program and documents verifying successful completion are in the school office by August 1.
5. In the event that a student does not meet the requirements for the grade level, the principal will make the final decision for retention or advancement for the upcoming school year.

Students in Grades K, 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty and lack of progress in these grades is often related to emotional and physical development and maturation. Each case will be considered individually, and consensus on placement will be the goal for the teacher, principal, the guidance department and the parents.  

Students in Grades 4 and 5  

Generally, lack of progress, in these grades, results from either a learning disability or a lack of application, motivation and failure to do the necessary work. (Diagnosed learning disabilities are a separate case.) Each student is treated as an individual, but generally, the following guidelines can be applied.

1. Students who receive a grade below 70% are considered as not passing. An average below 70% for the entire year of work can be made up as follows:
1. Summer school in that subject material;
2. Private study with a school approved certified teacher.
2. Students may make up no more than two subjects in the above manner without special permission.
3. The certified tutor will provide a written report to the school and to the parents of the student, including copies of tests and grades showing that the student has accomplished the above requirements.
4. Students who have a 70% or lower in a subject area may not move to the next grade level without summer school or tutoring.

 Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8

In order to be promoted to the next grade level, the student must demonstrate competency in meeting the subject area objective as stated in the Archdiocesan Graded Course of Study. In addition, for promotion from the eighth grade, students must successfully complete one year of American History and one-half year of Ohio Studies.  

The teachers and principal will consider the following factors in making promotion decisions:

1. The student's cumulative average in each of the following: Reading, English, Math, Science/Health, Religion and Social Studies
2. The student's basic skill development in Reading, Written Expression and Math Computation
3. The student's work habits and organizational skills
4. The student's attendance record

Retention will be recommended in the case of a student whose cumulative average is 69% or below in any of the following: Reading, English, Math, Science/Health, Religion or Social Studies.  

Students being tutored in Math will be required to achieve a 70% or better on a Basic Math Computation Test (to be administered by the staff of Saint Albert the Great School).  

The above tutoring/summer school policy applies only to those students who have an average of 69% or below in one or two subjects. Failure in three or more subjects will result in automatic retention.  

Review of Records  

Parents have the right to inspect and review records and any data directly related to their child with reasonable notice to the school office. This material is contained in the cumulative record folder and consists of academic work, level of achievement/grades, standardized test scores, attendance data, intelligence aptitude, and health records. Nothing may be removed from the file without a waiver.  

For the contents of a record to be released, a waiver must be signed. Student records may be released to other agencies only when the parents authorizing such action sign a record release form. Students over eighteen years of age may request the release of their records with a signed release form.

Testing - Formal and Standardized  

All policies from the Ohio State Department of Education and the Archdiocesan handbook will also be implemented.

Kindergarten Readiness Screening  

Kindergarten children are given the Inventory of Readiness Skills and Development Test of Visual-Motor Integration upon entering school.

Competency Based Evaluation - CBE 

Competency based testing is done in grades 3 and 7. This test involves an Archdiocesan-wide writing prompt given to the student.  The student creates a written product.  Area Catholic schoolteachers of the same grade level evaluate the product on a scale similar to the one used in proficiency testing. 

Basic Skills/Cognitive Abilities 

Students in grades 2,4, 6, and 8 will take the CTB McGraw Hill TerraNova Achievement Test and In View Ability Test.  These standardized tests provide us with both national and local norms.  Parents receive test results by the second semester.

Communications with Parents 

The following are just some of the ways the staff and administration of St. Albert the Great School will communicate with parents:  

	The Homework Hotline and Voice Mail system is available to all parents and teachers.
		Our school web page is located at www.stalsch.com.
		Email links to all teachers are located on our school web pages.
		Interim reports go home the middle of each quarter and the dates are given on the school calendar.
		Report cards go home at the end of each quarter with the students.
		Packets of papers may be sent home at the teacher's discretion

	School newsletter will go home on the first day of the school week with the youngest child unless another courier has been assigned.
		Parent/Principal Meetings will be held during the year.
		Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held in November and February.

Absences 

As a precautionary measure, parents/guardians are required to call the school office before 8:30 A.M. to report their child's absence. A telephone call will be necessary even if another child in the family reports the absence to the office before 8:30 A.M. The school will contact parents who do not call in to report an absent child. This is a very serious obligation for both the parents and the school.  

A written excuse stating the reason for absence is required when a child returns to school. Children should be kept home if there is evidence of illness, sore throat, fever or rash. See Health Guidelines for more information.

Tardy 

The start of the school day is 8:00 A.M. when the bell rings and prayer begins. At that point, teachers will close their doors. Students arriving after the door closes are asked to pray quietly wherever they may be standing and then report to the office to pick up a tardy slip. No student will be admitted to the classroom without this slip (See appendix for sample).  

Consequences for repeated tardiness is as follows:  

1. Grades five through eight - when 5 tardies have occurred, a demerit will be issued.
2. Repeated tardiness may require a conference with the parent.
3. If a student misses I - 3 hours in one day, they will be marked for 1/2 day absent.
4. In the case of a doctor’s appointment, students are required to check with the teacher whose class they have missed to collect missing class work or homework assignments.

Truancy  

Truancy is declared when a student is absent from school without authorization and parental consent. Leaving school during the day without the approval of the principal will be treated as truancy. The Truant Officer for Kettering - Moraine Schools will be contacted.

Extended Absence Policy       (Other than the Christmas, Spring, & Summer Breaks)  

Vacations and extended absences, except illness, are very strongly discouraged and should be considered a rare exception. It is certain that not all the work that is missed can be made up when students are out of the classroom for an extended period. Some work, however, can and must be made up. Students who must be taken out of school must make up work according to the direction of the teachers involved.   Work will be provided when the student returns.  Work must be completed within the same number of school days absent.  

It should be understood that the teachers cannot accept responsibility for the student's lost time and work, and it is the responsibility of the parent to:  

1. Give a two-week written notice that an extended absence will occur. 

2. See that the work that is missed is made up in a reasonable time period, usually the same number of days absent, after the student's return. This includes the taking of missed tests or exams.

3. Provide for a certified tutor for the student if it appears that the student is in need of one, either in preparing missed work or for preparing to take tests.

Early Dismissal

Consistency in learning means that the student must be present in class to be a part of the learning environment. If it is at all possible, please refrain from scheduling appointments during school hours.  

When it is absolutely necessary that an appointment must be scheduled during school hours, students MUST leave from the office. Students in grades K through 6 must be “signed out" by an adult. Upper level students may sign themselves out, but must wait in the office to be picked up. No student will be allowed to walk or catch a bus to an appointment.  

If it is not possible for the parent to come into the school building for the student, i.e., on crutches, small children in car, etc., arrangements can be made by calling the school for the student to leave the office unaccompanied by an adult.  

Parents whose children will be leaving are to write a note for the student on the morning of the appointment indicating the purpose and the expected times the student will be gone. Students returning from such an appointment must first report to the office and "sign in" before returning to the classroom.

Emergency Closing 

When adverse weather conditions exist, St. Albert the Great School will be closed if Kettering - Moraine Schools are closed. St. Albert the Great School will be included by Kettering - Moraine officials in any weather related announcement. Students and parents should listen to the radio or watch local television stations. The Kettering Schools transportation office notifies all of the local radio and television stations when there is an emergency closing.  

Other - if there is some other kind of emergency situation, every effort will be made to notify parents in writing as to procedure.  

Non-Custodial Parents 

Upon request, St. Albert the Great School families will be provided two sets of paperwork.

	A copy of weekly school newsletter (which informs parents of school activities, conferences, etc.)
		A copy of the interim report; and
		A copy of the child's report card, which is sent out quarterly.

Parent/Teacher Consultations 

Parents and teachers have joint responsibility for a child's development. In order to help students develop a well-balanced personality, both must cooperate in working out a suitable program of activities and experiences. Individual parent/teacher conferences are one of the most satisfactory means of making this cooperative planning possible. On occasion when concerns arise, an appointment should be scheduled with the teacher first to resolve the situation.  

The school faculty can schedule some conferences with parents.  We hope that parents will feel free to request a conference when they feel the need. The faculty will schedule the conference as quickly as possible but they are usually not free for consultation during school hours.  

Conference dates will be scheduled at the end of the first quarter and mid-way through the third quarter.  

Reading Tutor Program 

This program strives to help students improve their reading skills. Their teachers identify kindergarten through third grade students who will benefit from this program. Volunteer tutors are trained to use a variety of methods to assist students with phonemic awareness, sight word recognition, and comprehension skills.  

Contact: Chris Stephenson – 293-6859

Video Usage Guidelines

1.      Students in Grades Early Childhood –6^th grade may be shown videos and or films with a USCC A-I of (G) rating.

2.      Students in Grades 7-8 or in high school youth program may be shown videos and or films with a WSCC A-I. USCC A-II, (G) or (PG) rating.

3.      Videos and/or films with USCC A-III, USCC A-IV, O (R) or (X) are prohibited for all grade levels and the high school youth program.

4.      All use of PG 13 videos or films must be approved in advance by the Building

Principal, Curriculum Director and Director of Religious Education.

5.      Requests for exceptions to any of the above stated guidelines must be approved in advance by the Building Principal, Curriculum Director and Director of Religious Education.

6.      Staff members may check the video and/or film ratings in the following publications:

a.      United States Catholic Conference’s Office publications

b.      Catholic Telegraph Register

c.      Local Dayton/Cincinnati Newspapers

d.      Our Sunday Visitor’s Family Guide to movies and videos.  A copy is in the Religious Education Office.

7.      General Usage statement:  It is the expectation of the Education Commission that films and videos be used to enhance instruction, guided by specific learning goals and or objectives.  Additionally, it is expected that each staff member will protect instructional time-on-task of each learner every day of the school year. 

Advanced Math 

Saint Albert the Great offers an advanced Math Program for students in grades 7-8. Based on a variety of factors, students are placed in a particular Math grouping at the

beginning of 7th grade. The program provides students who excel in Math the skills necessary to take Algebra in their 8th grade year.  

Alter Academic Scholarship 

A non-renewable $500 scholarship to Archbishop Alter High School will be awarded to the top eighth grade student planning to attend Alter High School. The requirements are:

1. Grades from the third and fourth quarters of the seventh grade and the first, second and third quarters of the eighth grade are averaged. The student with the highest average will be awarded the scholarship. (Averaging is done as it is for the honor roll.)

2. If a student who has not been at St. Albert the Great School for the 7th grade is eligible for the scholarship, and has received letter grades, a conversion will be made to numbers using the mean in the number range equivalent.

Students who have not spent the entire eighth grade at St. Albert the Great School shall not be eligible.  

Muse Machine Adventure Program 

St. Albert the Great School participates in the “Muse Machine Adventure Program”.  This program incorporates the arts across all curricula. Teachers attend a three-day workshop each summer and then implement the ideas in their classes. Students have the opportunity of working with guest artists.   Funding for this program is made available through the efforts of the PTO.