VI.  EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Extra curricular activities outside of the regular classroom are the primary responsibility of the parents, teachers and groups sponsoring the activity. It is the sponsor's obligation to see to it that all areas of responsibility, coordinating, chaperoning, managing funds, etc. are clearly defined. For dates on skating parties (grades K-6) check your School Activity Calendar and for Teen Nights (grades 7 - 8) please check with a PTO Board member. Each group may ask students to follow guidelines including dress and behavior.

Athletics 

St. Albert the Great Parish offers opportunities for students in the school and Religious Education Program to participate in CYO events such as football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, track, baseball, softball, and cheerleading.  These are parish-

sponsored events and not school related activities. Coaches serve on a voluntary basis. Information regarding these programs and the various sport sign-ups can be found in the church bulletin and fliers distributed to the students at school.

Band 

Students in grades 5 - 8 may be in the instrumental band program.  The band program is offered through the help of the Alter High School Director of Bands. Students are given the opportunity to choose an instrument in September, and classes are held once a week in the music room. Advanced band (third year) is held before school, while Beginning and Intermediate levels are rotated in 45-minute classes.  Band is an extra curricular activity, and students are responsible for their academic class work.  

The instrumental program combines students from St. Albert the Great, St. Charles, Incarnation, and Bishop Leibold Schools to present two concerts a year (December and May).  Upper level students have the opportunity to participate in a Junior High Solo and Ensemble Contest in March; as well as the District XII Ohio Music Education Association Junior High Honor Band.  

MathCounts 

MathCounts is a U.S. Math competition for 7th and 8th graders. MathCounts teaches children advanced math skills and their application.  

MathCounts begins in September with students meeting two times per week during their lunchtime. The Regional competition takes place in mid-February alternating between the University of Dayton and Wright State University.  

Destination: ImagiNation 

Destination ImagiNation encourages children to be divergent thinkers and also teaches group problem solving skills. Usually the program begins in November. The contest takes place in March at Sinclair Community College.  

Students eligible - grades K - 8  

Power of the Pen 

Power of the Pen is a statewide creative writing competition for seventh and eighth graders. Students practice during the school day from October until district competition in late January. Qualifying students may go on to compete at regional and state levels. Feedback on student writing continues until all students have completed competition.  

Safely Patrol 

Students in the 7th and 8th grades will act as safety patrol monitors. Students will be on duty at Far Hills and Dorothy Lane during arrival and dismissal times. Students receive training and are supervised while on duty.

Foreign Language Program 

The Foreign Language Program is an extra-curricular activity for children K-8, high school students, and adults.  The program is open to all parishioners, to non-parishioners in the Dayton Deanery, and students of home-school families. The program offers entry, intermediate, and advance classes in Italian, French, Spanish, and German. 

We have chosen the Foreign Language Exposure (FLEX) model of foreign language for elementary students.  FLEX is designed to expose students to one or more language and cultures over the course of one or more school years.  We will introduce the four abilities of language acquisition:  listening, speaking, reading, and writing along with cultural awareness, all geared to the student’s grade level.  Each class will be taught in the target language.  This is very important for the acquisition of the language. 

Our curriculum is broken into four levels: k-4, Grs. 5-8, high school, and adult.  The K-4  curriculum is based on the BBC MUZZY program.  It is a fun and interactive way to introduce the target language at the elementary level.  This program includes a workbook, listening activities, role-playing, interactive games, and video skits.  The Grs. 5-8 curriculum will use a combination of a textbook, workbook, and conversational activities.  We are working with area high schools to have conversational partners for our students throughout the course.  Our course work is based on high school Level I curriculum.  We offer high school and adult courses as well.  These courses are upper high school level books.  The textbooks and conversation activities are geared to the target language in traveling and self-enhancement. 

Homework 

We recognize that the Foreign Language Program is an extra-curricular activity for your child(ren).  It is important, however, that the students practice what they have learned in class each week.  Most students will have some written homework to do each week and all students will have oral homework.  It is very important that this be done so that the student can keep pace with the lessons.  Any written homework should take less than 60 minutes to complete each week and should be done over several nights.  Oral practice is very important and should be done at least 3-4 times each week for 10-15 minutes.  For the oral practice, a CD will be provided so the child(ren) will be able to listen and repeat the assignment.  If you assist your child(ren) with their foreign language homework, the added benefit is that you, too, will begin to learn the language.  The secret to learning a foreign language is frequent, short exposure to that language. 

Communications 

The coordinator and teachers will occasionally send home newsletters to keep you informed of what the class is doing.  Please check your child(ren)’s papers each week for these newsletters.  We are also using www.stalsch.com.  Select “Programs”, then “Foreign Language”.  Our web site will be updated periodically.  Please check the web site for information. 

Multi-Cultural Programs

Twice each year all the foreign language students will come together for a program.  These two programs will be scheduled during January and May.  They will be held in the evening so that the student’s parents and family can attend.  The programs are very important parts of your child(ren)’s foreign language education.  We strongly recommend that you make these events a priority.

Tuition Payments and Refunds 

Tuition is to be paid in full by the third week of class, unless other arrangements have been made with the program coordinator.  Since this is a self-funded program, we rely on prompt tuition payments to purchase the necessary  materials and supplies for the program.  Your cooperation is great appreciated. 

If your child(ren) withdraws from the program during the first two weeks of class, you will receive a full refund.  If they withdraw between the third and fourth weeks of the program, you will receive a 50% refund.  No refunds will be given after the fourth week of classes.