Pastor
The Pastor is the leader of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles Parish and School. The Archbishop, the Archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools and the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED) have entrusted authority to him. The Pastor is responsible for fostering, nurturing, guiding and coordinating all of the ministries of the parish. He delegates the administration of the school to the Principal, who administers the school in accordance with Archdiocesan policies and guidelines. The Pastor and Principal cooperate and offer mutual support in matters of educational policy and practice. As leader of the decision-making process in the Parish, the Pastor’s authority includes the approval of all recommendations made by the Principal and/or School Council. The Pastor, Fr. Eddy Morales, and Business Manager, Ms. Finley, play a primary role in the development and implementation of the school’s budget.
Selection of the Principal includes the recommendation of a search committee appointed by the Pastor. The Principal is hired by the Pastor, in consultation with the Superintendent of Schools in the Archdiocese, and as per a ministry agreement from the Department of Catholic Schools.
School Council
The School Council’s authority is derived from the Pastor. The School Council’s mission is to consult with the Principal and Pastor in areas of school business: policy, development, strategic planning, and finance. The School Council consists of the Pastor, the Principal, three appointed and nine elected parents/parishioners, the PTC President and a UIW Representative. School Council meetings are generally held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The Agenda and Minutes are posted in both school buildings for parent and parish view.
Principal
The Principal, Mrs. Lauder, is the chief operational officer of the school and has responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day operation of the school. The Principal is responsible for setting policy, monitoring the strategic plan, approving procedures, reviewing programs, evaluating faculty, supervision of maintenance/custodial services and physical plant repairs/improvements, governance of student discipline, supervising staff and staff development, and determining all matters of admission, expulsion, release of student records, and graduation. The Principal formulates and oversees the budget and handles all areas of personnel, including hiring and dismissal. The Principal maintains an office on the ground floor at the Primary.
Assistant Principal
The Assistant Principal, Mr. Saucedo, assists the Principal in the day-to-day operations of the school. This administrator’s main responsibilities include, but are not limited to: overseeing the Athletic program, the curricula and curriculum alignment of grades PK3-8th grade, and curriculum development in Fine Arts and Foreign Language. The Assistant Principal organizes meetings with staff to ensure that TCCED requirements are followed; reviews lesson plans, and ensures that needed resources are obtained. When the Principal is unavailable, the Assistant Principal serves as the administrator in charge. The Assistant Principal maintains an office in the Annex.
Counselor for Student Support
The primary responsibility of the school counselor, Mr. Gottfried, is to counsel students to maximize his/her academic, spiritual, social and physical abilities. The Counselor is available to assist students with a wide range of individual concerns and makes available to students, parents and staff a wide range of community resources to assist with personal and family concerns. The counselor assists teachers in implementing the guidance curriculum of the Archdiocese, consults with parents to make appropriate referrals on academic and personal issues, consults with staff and others to provide effective instructional programs and operates as a member of the Administrative Team at St. Peter’s School. The Counselor takes the lead in the standardized testing program (ITBS) and academic programs such as NJHS and NEHS. The Counselor maintains an office in the Annex.
PAC (Principal’s Advisory Council)
The PAC assists the Principal and Assistant Principal in the operation of St. Peter’s School activities. This consultative committee supports the administration in matters of school policies, procedures and programs. Membership is comprised of the head Homeroom Parent from each class. Members receive suggestions and or concerns on school related issues from the administration and act as a channel of communication to parents as requested.
Annex Office Manager
The Annex Office Manager, Mrs. Cortez, coordinates information within the school, between parents and administration and between parish and school. She also manages teacher personnel records and payroll, records professional growth and attendance for each teacher and coordinates substitutes for teacher absences and field trips. The Annex Office Manager maintains an office in room 101 in the Annex.
Primary Office Manager/Registrar
The Primary Office Manager, Ms. Mireles, answers the telephone and coordinates the voicemail system. She checks in/out students and visitors in the primary building, and handles registration for all new students/families. The Primary Office Manager coordinates information, reserves facilities and disseminates mail and messages. The Primary Office Manager/Registrar maintains an office on the ground level of the Primary Building.
School Accounts Manager
The Accounts Manager works with the Principal and Finance Chairman from the School Council to ensure the approved budget is maintained. The Accounts Manager maintains the tuition accounts and assists with other financial responsibilities as needed. The Accounts Manager maintains an office in the Community Center, Room 102.
Health Coordinator
The Health Coordinator, Mrs. Harris, maintains all Health and Immunization Records for the school, coordinates and facilitates all required Health Screenings and handles student ailments, medications and communications with families related to accidents and/or ailments. The Health Coordinator has a clinic behind the Parish Hall.
Teachers
Teachers at St. Peter's are degreed, professional individuals. The classroom teacher is the heart of the school and is primarily responsible for ensuring that students at St. Peter's School have a well-organized environment conducive to learning. Teachers maintain classrooms in a professional manner and maintain communications with parents to ensure student success.
Teachers make every effort to inspire and sustain the behaviors and attitudes included in the Code of Conduct by modeling these expectations in their relationships with parents, students, and staff. Teachers ensure that students are familiar with expected behaviors and attitudes, and recognize positive behavior and attitude and facilitate an environment conducive to learning by:
· Creating enthusiasm for the subject matter
· Teaching creative and inspiring classes
· Ensuring students master necessary subject area skills
· Fostering each student's self-image and self-confidence and treating each student with respect
· Providing positive individual attention to students
· Reinforcing Christian values, and stressing the difference between right and wrong
· Being a living example of integrity
· Involving students' parents, whenever appropriate, in their child's education by maintaining ongoing communication with parents
· Maintaining orderly and respectful classrooms
· Encouraging responsibility and initiative among students.
Paraprofessionals/Aides
When student enrollment permits, paraprofessionals, also referred to as Teacher's Aides, are assigned specific areas of responsibility. These aides remain with the assigned grade and perform assigned duties from the classroom teacher.
PTC
The purpose of the St. Peter's Parent Teacher Club is to foster a close union between parents and teachers, and to coordinate activities for the welfare of the school. Parents/guardians of students attending St. Peter's School and all teachers are considered active members of this club. A $40 fee per family is paid at registration. These fees are used to provide the school with educational materials to enhance the quality of education. PTC meetings are held in September, February and May.
St. Peter's School parent volunteers are a very special resource. Parents help in classrooms, help with programs, and assist with co-curricular activities. Parents are encouraged to sign up for volunteer services needed by the school and parish (see Service Work Policy). Parent volunteers have a current Criminal Background/History check on file and always sign-in to secure a Visitor Pass. Homeroom Parents are volunteer parents whose task is to assist their child's homeroom teacher. Some of these activities include organizing classroom parties, making phone calls, and arranging for workers at the various school activities. Directives for the year are given at a special meeting for Homeroom Parents. During this meeting specific duties are outlined for the year. Special duties are also made known to Homeroom Parents. Homeroom Parents are part of the Principal's Advisory Committee (PAC), which meets once a month.
Students
· Conduct him or herself in a manner that contributes to a positive school environment
· Avoid any activity that may be considered discriminatory, intimidating, or harassing
· Immediately inform anyone harassing him or her that the behavior is offensive and unwelcome.
· Report all incidents of discrimination or harassment to the Principal, Assistant Principal or other school personnel
· If informed he or she is perceived as engaging in discriminatory, intimidating, harassing or unwelcome conduct, will discontinue that conduct immediately; the student is subject to disciplinary measures.
Parents
Parents make every effort to support and model the behaviors and attitudes included in the Code of Conduct. Parents regularly check the student planner, review with their student the expected behaviors and attitudes, and supports the teachers in the following ways:
· Reviewing homework and assignments on a regular basis
· Providing adequate opportunities for completion of assignments
· Ensuring acquisition of materials and information for projects
· Meeting with the teacher when questions arise about assignments, grades or other items
· Reinforcing Christian values, and stressing the difference between right and wrong
· Being a living example of integrity
· Expecting responsibility and initiative of their student
· Honoring the professional opinion and/or decisions of the staff and school
· Agreeing to follow the school rules, policies and codes at all times.