Accidents
A student accident insurance fee is added to every child’s general fee. In the event of an accident at school you may obtain a claim form from the office. Please note that the school accident insurance usually is secondary to the Parent/Guardian’s own medical insurance coverage.
After School Program
An after school program is available to Parent/Guardians. Families who wish to utilize this program should obtain a registration form from the main office. Students who are not picked up by 3:10 p.m. will be sent to the After Care Program and appropriate fees will be applied.
Announcements
Informational announcements are handled through the school P.A. Courteous attention is expected when any message is presented over the P.A. system, especially when prayers are said. All announcements must be written and brought to the office and approved by the principal.
Birthdays
Birthday recognitions for Grades Pre K – 1 are specific to each grade and are only held with the teacher’s permission. Homeroom teachers will furnish details for their class. Parents/Guardians should submit their request in writing to the teacher several days in advance of the birthday. Parents/Guardians may bring small individual items such as cupcakes, brownies, etc. Parents/Guardians are requested to be sensitive to possible food allergies of students. The homeroom teacher or nurse can provide specific information for each class Parents/Guardians may not bring in favors or “goodie” bags for the students. Grades 2-8 do not hold birthday celebrations.
Books
All books must be properly covered. Contact paper is NOT to be used to cover any books obtained under N.Y.S. Textbook Loan. These books are stamped on the inside front cover. Each child is responsible for keeping his/her books in good condition. Books that are lost or defaced become the liability of the student and his/her Parents/Guardians. If a book is lost or defaced, the school will bill the Parents/Guardians for the cost.
1. ASSIGNED TEXTBOOKS: When a textbook is lent to a pupil on a semi-permanent basis, the New York State Department of Education requires that:
a. the pupil’s name be placed in the space provided in each book
b. the teacher make a record of the number of the book
c. the teacher make a record of the condition of the book
d. in September, each child will put a clean cover on each textbook received
e. in June, all textbooks are collected, extra materials and covers are removed.
f. all workbooks are collected in June.
2. SUPPLEMENTARY BOOKS: When books are handed out to the children for use during a specific period within the classroom, they will be immediately collected after they have been read. If the book is to remain with the children for any length of time, his/her name must appear in the book and the teacher should have a record of this.
3. LIBRARY BOOKS: Books may be borrowed for one week. Books are charged to the child so that he/she will have the experience of signing out a library book and abiding by due dates. If books are returned late, there will be a five cents fine per day per book, payable by the child. All lost library books must be paid for so that the school can purchase an additional copy. If the book is located after a new order is placed, the child will be allowed to keep the old book since he/she has paid for it.
Buses
Some local districts provide buses for students. If service is available in a specific area, Parents and Guardians must make arrangements for service. Please call the school for more information.
NB - If travel arrangements must be changed on any given day, a written notice must be submitted at the beginning of the school day. Students and Parent/Guardians should consider riding on the school bus as a privilege and an extension of the school. Thus, students are to demonstrate a respectful, Christian, and safety-conscious attitude at all times on the bus.
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students should obey the driver and monitors at all times.
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students should do nothing to cause annoyances or distraction to the driver, as this places the safety of all in danger.
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in cases of extreme or persistent misbehavior, Immaculate Conception School will work in consultation with the public school district or bus company about possible consequences.
These same guidelines apply to students who utilize public transportation.
Change of Address
The office must be informed immediately if there is a change of home address, telephone numbers or email for purposes of mailing and/or emergency. Families who utilize our Before and After Care programs must provide separate written notice of any change to these programs as each program maintains separate files from the office files.
Child Abuse Laws
Under NYS law, school officials are legally obliged to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the proper agency. In so reporting, no allegation is made against a Parent/Guardian or care giver. Rather, it is a judgment by the school that the child may be presenting signs of abuse or neglect. If the teacher or school nurse suspects abuse or neglect, he or she must immediately confer with the principal to discuss the aspects of the abuse and to determine which person on the school staff will report the alleged abuse to the proper agency.
Child Custody
Custodial Parents/Guardians are entitled to receive original sets of report cards, school and special event notices, school calendars, etc. Non-custodial Parents/Guardians are generally entitled to receive duplicate sets of report cards, school and special event notices, school calendars, etc. Such Parents/Guardians are asked to supply the teacher with self-addressed stamped envelopes for convenience and expediency.
It is the responsibility of both Custodial and Non- Custodial parents to provide the school will copies of custody and / or visitation papers.
It is the responsibility of the Non-Custodial Parent/Guardian to inform the teacher and the office of their request for information.
Communication
Since as Parents/Guardians you are the child’s first teachers, you are our partners in education. Therefore, regular communication with you is an essential part of your child’s school experience. Scheduled Parent/Guardian conferences allow teachers and Parents/Guardians to discuss student achievement as well as to develop means to assist students in areas of difficulty.
A Parent/Guardian may request a meeting with a teacher at any time by simply sending a note or email to the teacher in question and the teacher will arrange for this meeting outside class time at a mutually convenient time. A Parent/Guardian who is refused such a meeting should notify the principal. The meeting should take place in the classroom or someplace that insures privacy, never in a hallway, a store or the parking 10 lot etc. Parents/Guardians are discouraged from discussing school/student concerns on school/parish grounds during drop off or at dismissal.
Confidentiality
There is a professional and moral ethic that requires all persons to safeguard all information of a privileged nature. It is imperative that such information be regarded as a sacred trust.
• If there is evidence of knowledge that could impact on the health or safety of any person, the teacher has the responsibility to share the information with the principal.
• Under Section 423 of the Child Protective Services Act, school officials are required to report when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is an abused or maltreated child. (See section on Child Abuse.)
The rules that govern privileged information apply, as well, to any personal or academic information that is discovered through daily classroom instruction or other social interaction with students, Parents/Guardians or peers. Always the sense of the sacred should prevail.
Crisis Plan
Should a crisis require evacuation from Immaculate Conception School building, students will be brought to a safe place located at either Immaculate Conception Church, Concordia College, Assumption Church or Waverly School and Parents/Guardians can meet them there. In the event of an emergency evacuation Parents/Guardians should access our web-site www.icschoolonline.org for the information regarding the evacuation site. For further information concerning the crisis, Parent/Guardians can refer to the following:
During the 2008-2009 school year the Archdiocese of NY will be contracting with
a service that will enhance communications for both routine and emergency
announcements (IRIS – Immediate Response Information System) more details
will become available throughout the year.
