St. Luke H & S Parents’
Survival Guide & Handbook

2006 - 2007

St. Luke the Evangelist School
2336 Fairhill Avenue , Glenside, PA 19038
School Phone: 215-884-0843
Child Check: 215-887-1236
School Closing #332
http://www.saintlukeschool.org

St. Luke Parents’ Survival Guide and Handbook

Welcome to a new school year!  With every new beginning come new challenges and many questions.  Based on feedback from St. Luke School parents, this handbook has been compiled to make you and your child’s transition into a new school year a little easier. .  The information contained below has been gathered by the Home and School Association and approved by the principal.  By no means can it be totally complete; with each year, St. Luke School and its programs evolve and grow.  Rather, this booklet is designed to give a general understanding of the major programs, activities, and services that St. Luke School and its Home and School Association (H&S) provide.  In addition, some “Helpful Tips and Terms” are included for new parents.  For additional information on St. Luke School Policies and Procedures, consult the Parent-Student Handbook, revised 9/01.

The Home and School Association – who are we?

As parents of St. Luke students, we all are members of the Home and School Association (H&S).  Membership also includes pastor, principal and faculty.  The Home and School Executive Board governs the association.  The Board includes 12 – 14 members who serve a three-year term.  The Board members are your peers as parents.  Although the Board directs the work of the group, it is vitally important that all parents take an active interest and become involved in the school’s activities and programs.  In large part, the quality of our school and our children’s education depends on us!

Mission Statement

We, the Home and School Association of St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic School, dedicated to fostering and enhancing the Catholic education of each child, commit ourselves to:

• Serving the physical, educational, spiritual and emotional needs of the children

• Collaborating with parents, faculty and staff to meet the children’s needs

• Enriching the educational experience of each child

• Supporting parents by offering family–oriented programs
  

The Home and School Association is active throughout the school year.  The following is a list of some of the activities that you can look forward to during the coming year:

1. UNIFORM SWAP AND SALE – Several times a year,  H&S sponsors the Uniform Swap and Sale.  Gently worn uniforms are available either to swap (for your child’s outgrown uniforms) or purchase.  Various supplies such as St. Luke pencil cases are also available for sale at this time.  The Swap/Sale is usually held in the Chapel House. 

Stationery and pencil cases are available for purchase throughout the year.  Send your order request (in an envelope marked Home and School supplies) in to the homeroom teacher.

2. BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT – This important meeting occurs during one of the first few weeks of the school year.  Parents attending the meeting have the opportunity to hear valuable information about the coming year, meet teachers, pay H&S membership dues, and volunteer for upcoming activities.

3. GENERAL MEETINGS – Once or twice per year, H&S sponsors a general meeting.  At these events, board members give recaps of the year’s events, and the principal and / or a guest speak on relevant topics.  The meetings allow parents to “touch base” with what’s going on in the school and hear news on current issues.

4. VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS -A general note: Throughout the year, H&S coordinates various activities and programs, which rely on the help of our dedicated volunteers.  Volunteers are requested at various times of the year, but requests to expect early in the year are:  Homeroom Parent, Snow Chain, Child Check, Teacher Luncheon, Hammer & Saw, Marketing Committee and Tech Team.  At other times of year, volunteers are requested as each activity approaches, such as Christmas Craft Fair, Lunch with Santa, Santa’s Secret Shop, Penny Party, and Enrichment.

• Homeroom Parent – At least three parents are needed to act as Homeroom Parents for each class.  Duties include working with the teacher to organize various parties and activities throughout the year.  Homeroom parents for grades K-2 also organize the “Lunch with Santa” in December.

• Snow / Emergency Dismissal Phone Chain – Should snow or other reasons cause an emergency school closing, our phone chain volunteers work to notify all St. Luke families of the details.  To be a phone captain or caller, phone chain volunteers must be able to be reached, and must be able to make phone calls from home or place of work.  It is important to designate a dismissal plan early.

• Child Check - Child check involves a one-week assignment per volunteer.  During the assigned week, the volunteer reports to the child-check desk in the morning (9am to 9:30 am) to compare absentee reports to sick calls.  Any child reported absent but not called in by a parent is checked.  This service is important in helping to ensure the safety of St. Luke children.

• Teacher Luncheon Team – Each first Friday of the month, this group provides a luncheon for the entire faculty.  What a great way to say “Thank You” to our hard working staff, and boost morale by providing a great meal in a social setting!  Volunteers do not need to come, stay or serve; rather, they can send a prepared dish or other needed item in with their child.  This is a great opportunity for busy parents who cannot spare time for other school activities to lend a helping hand.  Great cooking skills not required – recipes are supplied, if needed and other items also include soda, salad dressings etc.

• Hammer & Saw Committee – This group meets as needed on a mutually convenient evening for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.  The group takes care of minor repairs identified by the principal as needing attention. .  Little experience is needed, just a willingness to work to make small improvements and to keep our school looking great!  Volunteers will probably need to bring along some tools once jobs needing attention are identified

• Marketing Team – This committee works with the principal in developing strategies to market our school and increase exposure in the community by way of photo and press releases, school brochures and enrollment marketing materials. Interest and/or professional experience in this area are definitely a plus!

• Tech Team – Experience in hardware, software, networking, web design, etc., is needed for membership on our Technology Team.  This advisory group assists the principal and technology teacher in brainstorming, looking for financial resources, maintaining all computers, and generally pursuing ways to improve our program.  (Inexperienced members are also welcome to work on the financial component of the committee.)

• Mentoring Moms - we match moms, new to St. Luke School, with moms of current students.  This mentoring program is designed to help newer moms with questions and general information about the school.

5. SCHOOL DIRECTORY – H&S publishes the School Directory early in the school year, with help from parent volunteers.  The directory contains not only listings of school families, but also Homeroom Parent lists and school organization contacts.

6. CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR – Look forward to the Craft Fair in mid-November!  Needed are talented crafters, kitchen support staff, volunteer cooks and parents to assist in Attic Treasures and Kids’ Games.  The Christmas Craft Fair is one of H&S’s major fundraisers.

7. SANTA’S SECRET SHOP – Santa’s Secret Shop, sponsored by H&S, provides the opportunity for St. Luke’s children to do holiday shopping for parents, siblings, and family.  Each child brings in an envelope stating for whom to buy and how much to spend on each person.  Parent volunteers are needed to act as cashiers for the event, and act as helpers for the little ones.  Volunteers serve 1 – 2 hours on that day.  This is not a fundraiser, but our children love the opportunity to “surprise” us with their gifts!  All items are $1.

8. LUNCH WITH SANTA – The lunch is held in the 3rd week of December. Parents, with support from the H&S board members, coordinate this event for children in Grades K-2.   Volunteers decorate, set up, and clean up.  This is not a fundraiser, but a fun social event for the little ones enjoyed by parents and children alike!

9. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK – This exciting week in January/February is focused on celebrating Catholic Schools.  Wonderful events are always planned, including treats for the students, and assemblies.

10. ENRICHMENT PROGRAM –This six-week program runs from February to March, from 3pm – 4:15pm, one day per week.  New ideas are always needed from parents and children alike!  Teachers and teachers’ assistants are needed, and are paid for time and materials.  Free babysitting is provided.  This is an extra-curricular activity, not a fundraiser.  In the past, children have enjoyed learning woodworking, crafts, cooking, scrap booking, balloon sculpting, foreign languages, and heritages.

11. PENNY PARTY – Look forward to  February!  H&S’s largest fundraiser, the Penny Party, pays the music teacher’s salary.  Like Christmas Craft Fair, this fundraiser is very labor intensive.  Volunteers are always needed to call and pick-up donations, decorate, cleanup and serve as runners on the night of the event.

12. MAY PROCESSION – May Procession is a major event for the entire school that honors the Blessed Mother.  The Procession itself takes place during school hours on a chosen day in May.  Graduating eighth graders wear their graduation attire, First Communicants wear their special outfits, and Confirmed seventh graders also are specially recognized.  All other students wear their full uniform.  We encourage parents to attend this not to be missed special event.

13. FIELD DAY – During the last week of school, St. Luke School travels to Alverthorpe Park to enjoy Field Day.  Parent volunteers and teachers supervise this physically active day for the students.
    

While the following are not H&S events – they are fun events to look forward to each year:

BARNES & NOBLE “IT’S THE PRINCIPAL OF THE THING” STORY HOUR – This event is usually held in May or June and coordinates with the release of the summer required reading list.  Summer Smarts workbooks and required reading books are available for sale.  Sr. William and Msgr. Flood read a few stories to the children in attendance.  Even SLS alumni plan to purchase their required summer reading on this night!  Barnes & Noble donates a portion of receipts to St. Luke.  It has become a fun evening to catch up with all of Glenside.

FOOD CERTIFICATES- This is the only fundraiser for the CYO, Scouts, Campfire Girls, Youth Group and Sports.  Participants are asked to purchase script to shop at their regular grocery store.  A portion of that sale is then returned to St. Luke’s.  More information can be found on the St. Luke Website.

SCRIPT for TUITION- This is a fundraiser for you.  There are a large number of national chains that will provide a “giveback” to you that will be applied to your tuition account.  For more information contact the school office.  Script is ordered on Monday and returned on Friday. 

We canvassed some “new” St Luke parents to find out what kind of information they wish they had at their fingertips.

HELPFUL TIPS & TERMS

TAG DAY – In return for a small monetary donation (between  $.50 and $1.00) St. Luke children wear regular clothes to school.  Blue jeans and sweatpants are acceptable; low riders, short shorts and exposed midriffs are not acceptable.  Some tag days are themed, for example “Red, White and Blue day or Hawaiian day.  Proceeds frequently are designated for a specific charity.

NUT DAY PASS – NUT (No Uniform Today) Passes are given by the principal or teachers as a reward for various reasons.

MASS SCHEDULE – The students of St. Luke School attend daily Mass once a week.  Each grade is assigned a day of the week to attend 8:30 a.m. Mass with their classmates. 

Monday  Grade 7  (Grade 2 in January)
Tuesday  Grade 4
Wednesday  Grade 5
Thursday Grades 6 & 8
Friday Grade 3

First Friday masses are celebrated with the entire student body.  Each grade takes a month to plan the liturgy.  Parents are always welcome to attend First Friday mass.

GYM SCHEDULE – Children come to school wearing their gym uniform the day their class is scheduled for gym.

Tuesdays
Grade 3
Grade 6 (rm.305)
Grade 7
K

Wednesdays
Grade 1
Grade 5
Grade 6 (rm.306)

Thursdays
Grade 2
Grade 4
Grade 8

FAMILY ENVELOPE – This large envelope comes home each Thursday with the youngest (or only) child in each family.  Important school-related papers such as newsletters from the principal, calendars, milk-orders, and notices of upcoming volunteer opportunities and activities are contained in the envelope.  The envelope should be signed and returned to school the following day (Friday).  Any correspondence or monies should be sent back to school in a separate labeled envelope.  Nothing is to be returned inside the family envelope.

PRETZELS – Soft pretzels are for sale each day for $.25 at AM recess.

PIZZA DAY – About once per month, St. Luke School has Pizza Day.  Pizza Day is organized by a group of dedicated St. Luke parents.  Order forms for upcoming Pizza Day lunches are sent home through the Family Envelope.  Pizza must be ordered in advance.

MILK ORDERS – Milk is order three times per year (for each trimester).  It is important that milk orders be submitted by the due date.  Once the trimester order is placed for the school there cannot be any changes made.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL –

Arrival – Upon arrival, all students assemble in designated places in the yard.  Grades K – 2 assemble directly behind the lower building, Grades 3 – 4 behind the convent, Grades 5 - 8 assemble in the upper yard behind the upper building.  During inclement weather, students report directly to their classroom.  Parents dropping children off by car should enter the lower lot via Roberts Avenue, drop children at the Church driveway, and proceed to exit on Easton Road.  Parents are reminded not to drop children off on Fairhill Avenue.

Dismissal – (Faculty members escort all lines including cars)
Walkers – Faculty members escort walkers, with the assistance of student safeties, to Easton Road, Sylvania Avenue and Roberts Avenue
Car Riders – All drivers must back into a parking space in the lower lot to await the line being escorted to the parking lot.  Safeties will then direct traffic out of the lot, once children are in their cars.

Emergency Dismissal - Make note of the plan you set for your child.   Do they come home following their regular plan or do they wait at school until you pick them up? Talk to your child about the plan you have in place. 

Emergency Cards – Designate how your child will be dismissed.  In the case of an early, unplanned dismissal a parent can choose how their child will be sent home.  If not designated, the child will be sent home their routine way.

SCHOOL HOURS – Regular school hours are 8:15 a.m. until 2:55 p.m.  Students are supervised in the yard in the morning from 8 a.m. until the bell rings at 8:15 a.m.

LUNCH TIMES –

Grade K                      11:30 am – 12:20 pm
Grade 1 – 4                 11:40 am – 12:20 pm
Grade 5 – 8                 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

LOST AND FOUND – Clothing (sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets) or school equipment (lunch boxes, pencil cases) should be labeled with the student’s name.  Identified items will be returned to the student.  Unidentified items will be kept in Lost and Found (usually in the Gym) until the end of the school year, and then donated to the Uniform Swap and Sale.

All children who have completed K through 2nd grade complete SUMMER SMARTS – a mandatory workbook. It is believed that by continuing a review of materials throughout the summer vacation children are better prepared for the next grade.

Summer Uniforms – Summer uniforms maybe worn from the first day of School in September until October 15th and from May 1st until the last day of school.  This includes shorts for gym.

Pencil Cases – Each student needs a St. Luke pencil case.