Brainpower Summer Camp
Policy Handbook
St. Peter's Mission Statement
We the members of St. Peter's Parish are committed to witnessing and sharing the love of Christ. St. Peter's School offers our children an excellent education within a community of faith; a community in which the parish's faith, values, and attitudes are reinforced and lived within an educational setting that encourages growth and self-esteem. Our children, formed in Christian values, give witness to the Gospel in the Church and in society.
St. Peter's School is an expression of the parish's belief that each child is a unique gift of God and a special promise for the future. Each deserves respect, affirmation, and support in the development of his/her talents and individuality. The school helps each child reach full potential with awareness of being a child of God.
We recognize the parents are the primary educators of their children. The school supports and reinforces the parents' desire to give their child a holistic education based on sound academics and Christian values. (Reviewed 6/08)
Pastor
The Pastor is the leader of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles Parish and School. The Archbishop, the Archdiocesan Schools Office 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 plays 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 Catholic Schools Office.
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, and the PTC President. School Council meetings are 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 is the chief operational officer of the School and has responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day operation of the School, as well as, After School Care and Summer Programs. The Principal is responsible for setting policy, monitoring the strategic plan, approving procedures, reviewing programs, evaluating faculty, supervision of maintenance/custodial personnel 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 assists the Principal in the day-to-day operations of the School, as well as, After School Care and Summer Programs. This administrator’s main responsibilities include, but are not limited to: overseeing 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.
Dean of Student Activities
The Dean of Student Activities is responsible for developing and implementing programs providing direct assistance to students in both co-curricular and curricular projects. The Dean helps provide new student orientations, bridge programs between primary, intermediate and middle school, monitors student dances/socials, assists class officers with meetings & class activities, coordinates peer assistance programs and other student activities and field trips. The Dean maintains an office in the Annex Building.
Camp Directors
The camp directors are responsible for the overall summer camp programs. All registration, communications, and financial responsibilities are handled with the Camp Directors.
Annex Office Manager
The Annex Office Manager coordinates information within the schools, 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 106 in the Annex.
Primary Office Manager/Registrar
The Primary Office Manager 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.
Camp Counselors
Camp Counselors are professional individuals that were selected for the experience in working with children. The counselor is the heart of the summer camp and is primarily responsible for ensuring that camps have a safe, fun, and well-organized environment. Counselors maintain classrooms in a professional manner and maintain communications with parents to ensure camp success.
Jr. Counselors & Volunteers
Jr. Counselors and other volunteers are assigned specific areas of responsibility. They remain with the assigned group and perform duties assigned by their lead camp counselor.
STANDARDS
Dress
Students are expected to be in modest, tidy, and weather appropriate clothing, including bathing suits. Clothing should also be in good taste. In poor taste are very baggy pants, T-shirts with logos or inappropriate advertisements (alcohol, sex, tobacco, drugs etc.), bandanas, midriff, halter, strapless, exposed back, sheer or tank top shirts, and jeans with holes or tears. Many shorts are acceptable. However, cut-offs, spandex or Lycra, gym shorts, form fitting bicycle shorts, wind shorts, and shorts with holes or tears are not acceptable. A Camp Director will call parents of campers who are dressed inappropriately and will ask that new clothing be brought to camp or that the camper be taken home.
Grooming
High standards of grooming are very important, not only at St. Peter's, but in the real world as well.
· Hair is kept neat, clean and away from the face. Hair is not dyed in colors or cut in faddish fashion. For boys: ponytails and hair past the collar is not permitted.
· Tattoos and writing, temporary or permanent, are not worn; body piercing is not allowed.
· One watch, and one pair of stud earrings (for girls) is permitted. Any other jewelry can get lost or broken.
Clean Up
Campers and camp counselors will conduct a complete room and floor clean-up at the end of each day. Rooms are expected to be kept neat and clean.
Drop Off/Pick-Up
All students are dropped off at 103 Marcia before 8:30am. A sign in/out sheet will be in the waiting area to sign in and out each camper. After 8:30, the camper may be dropped off with their lead counselor and the counselor will log the arrival in their roster. The arrival will then be transferred to the sign in/out sheet in 103 Marcia. When a child must be picked up early, the child can be picked up from their lead counselor and the counselor will log the departure in their roster. The departure will then be transferred to the sign in/out sheet in 103 Marcia. Students are escorted into and out of the reception area at 103 Marcia by their parent/guardian. Parents may either pull up to the curb and pick up their child or park and cross the street and come get their child. It is very dangerous to allow a child to cross traffic to get to a parent in a waiting car and staff will make every attempt to prevent this action.
Lost and Found
Items that are found are brought to the lost and found bin in the 103 Marcia House. When a child's name is in the item, it is returned to the child. If a lost article is not in the lost and found bin, please check the child's classroom(s), playground, the gym, and with After Care staff.
SCHEDULES and ACTIVITIES
After Care
After Care is offered on camp days from 3:30 until 6:00 P.M for a fee of $35 per camper per week. Students are provided with a snack and are supervised in theme based activities. Young students also have the opportunity to play on the playground with supervision. The same standards of conduct are required of students as during the regular camp day. Students are removed from the After School Care Program on a temporary or permanent basis for misconduct, failure to follow rules, or disruptive behavior.
When a student is not picked up by 6:00 pm, a charge of $1 per minute is added. Drop-ins or late pick-up fees are paid on the day they are incurred. When payments are accrued and not paid within a week, a late fee of $10 is assessed. For drop-ins, there is a $5.00 fee per hour or any part of an hour per child. A $35 fee is added for checks returned from the bank for Non-Sufficient-Funds. (NSF).
Class Parties/Birthday Wishes
Invitations to a student's birthday party may be given out within the campers group only when EVERY CAMPER IN THE GROUP RECEIVES AN INVITATION or IF EVERY BOY RECEIVES AN INVITATION or IF EVERY GIRL RECEIVES AN INVITATION. If only a few students are to receive an invitation, they may not be handed out at Camp. This includes before Camp, during Camp hours, after Camp, sports practice etc. When the whole group is not invited to a party, hurt feelings, cliques, and emotional upsets occur which interferes with learning.
The School does not permit birthday parties on the campus. Parents may send cupcakes or cookies on the day of the child's birthday, but no carbonated beverages, cakes or doughnuts, please. Please do not send balloon-grams, flowers, etc. for delivery during camp.
Custody of Children
St. Peters abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment regarding the rights of the Non-custodial parents. All court orders are to be on file in the student’s permanent record. In the absence of a court order to the contrary, the school provides a non-custodial parents with access to the academic records and to other school related information regarding the child. A non-custodial parent must give a 24-hour notice of a request. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the court order when a court order specifies no information is to be given to the non-custodial parent or the non-custodial parent may not pick up the child or see the child. All divorced parents are encouraged to provide the school with a copy of the custody section of the divorce decree. Unless otherwise noted only individuals listed on the child’s registration forms are allowed to remove the child from the campus.
Electronic
No personal electronic devices are allowed at camp. All devices will be confiscated and return to a parent.
Inclement Weather
During inclement weather, local radio stations and television stations normally announce School closings. The Archdiocesan Schools Office makes the decision to close all Catholic Schools when the weather is bad throughout the Archdiocesan area. Listen for OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE ON TV and RADIO STATIONS. St. Peter’s School also closes school if Alamo Heights School District closes school.
Lunch
The priority for our camp lunch program is to offer a nutritious re-fueling opportunity for campers. Students need to eat lunch every day to stay healthy and alert; please notify the Administration if there is a special circumstance warranting exemption. Several lunch options will be provided daily, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, baked potatoes, etc. Fridays, pizza will be ordered. The lunch program is purchased weekly. Students may opt to bring lunch from home. Carbonated drinks are prohibited in the lunch room. Most days, lunch will be served out of the Annex kitchen and eaten in the Gym.
Tardiness/Absences
Prompt arrival to camp is appreciated. Late arrival disrupts and limits activities. Please contact a camp director or your child’s camp counselor if an illness or other incident requires your child to be absent or late.
Asbestos
This is our annual notice of the presence of asbestos containing materials in our School. The location and condition of these materials are found in the approved Management Plan, located in the Assistant Principal's office. In 1993 St. Peter's had its three-year re-inspection. In January/February and June/July (1994) we had our periodic surveillance. These are conducted by PSI. The results of these inspections and surveillance are recorded in the Management Plan. Ceilings were removed and replaced at the Annex building in 1994. At the Primary Building pipe casings were changed in the bathrooms, primary library and boiler room. Remaining Asbestos is checked annually.
Crisis Plan
In the event of a crisis, the School does have a crisis plan that is utilized. This plan is available in each classroom and on our website. If such an event occurs, parents are notified as needed.
Field Trips
Field trips will be taken frequently during our summer camp. Three days a week, we will swim at the Incarnate Word High School. Once a week, we will go to a destination that ties in with our weekly theme. These trips are designed to supplement camp activities and to introduce students to the resources of the community. Going on a field trip is a privilege, not a right. Students may be denied the opportunity to attend a school-sponsored trip based on a history of misconduct or one single event. Parent participation in field trips is left to the discretion of each counselor. The parent must sign and return our general field trip permission on the camper’s Information Sheet, as well as, a Field Trip Form for trips other than going to the pool. Without the parent signature, the child remains at School supervised by another classroom teacher. All parents who attend field trips must have a current Criminal History/Background check on file and be on the approved volunteer list.
Fire/Disaster Drills
Fire/Disaster Drills are held once a month. Escape plans are posted inside the door of each classroom.
Grievances
Please report all grievances and concerns to a camp director or school administration.
Illness/Injury
If a child is ill or injured, a member of the staff cares for the child. Counselors are equipped for administering emergency first aid. When emergency medical treatment is necessary the parent is contacted. If a parent is not available, the child is taken to the emergency room of the hospital indicated on the INFORMATION SHEET completed at registration. Please keep your TELEPHONE NUMBER, AN EMERGENCY NUMBER, & THE NAME AND NUMBER OF YOUR CHILD'S DOCTOR CURRENT. When a child becomes ill at Camp the parent is contacted to take the child home. If the parent cannot be contacted, the person(s) listed on child's INFORMATION SHEET is contacted.
Leaving Campus
Students do not leave the campus at any time without being escorted by a camp counselor, parent or guardian. Students are not released to an adult other than their parent or guardian unless they are listed on the child's emergency card.
Medication
Only medication necessary for a camper to remain at camp is given during Camp hours. Medication is brought to the office by the parent. If the medication is liquid, it should be accompanied with a calibrated medication dispenser that has legible numbers on it. Only medication prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist and labeled by a registered pharmacist is administered during Camp hours. ‘Over-the-counter’ medication (including but not limited to acetaminophen, ointments, cold tablets, and cough drops) is not given during Camp hours.
Student medication must be in its original container clearly labeled with the following information:
· Student Name
· Physician/Dentist name
· Date
· Name of medication
· Dosage
· Directions for Administration
· Duration of Administration
Medication that has expired is not administered. School personnel return unused medication directly to the parent. By physician’s written direction, a student may be allowed to carry and self-administer inhaler medication.
Suspected Abuse
As is required by Texas law, any incident of abuse or suspected abuse of a child is reported to Child Protective Services.
Travel Between Buildings
Students do not travel between the Primary and Annex buildings without adult supervision.
Visitors on Campus
Parents are welcome at St. Peter’s School. All visitors must sign in at the main office. Student visitors are not permitted. After camp, parents wait outside the reception area of 103 Marcia for student pick-up.
Technology
With the advances of technology and the corresponding explosion of access to information available, the opportunity exists to provide your child with access to online services at our school. In providing this opportunity for your child to take advantage of the wide range of services and information, we cannot totally block access to the Internet and its subsequent range of materials. Each parent and child needs to be aware of the fact that not all information on the Internet may be accurate or true and is uncensored. The school’s policies, rules and regulations that govern every day behavior and their subsequent consequences also govern behavior on the use of online services. In order for each child to be able to log onto services through the school, parent and child need to read and sign the Acceptable Use Agreement. The agreement covers both rules of usage and etiquette.
St. Peter Prince of Apostles School provides technology resources to its students and staff for educational and administrative purposes. Technology Resources include the intranet, internet access, fax, E-mail, stand-alone computer, and telephone. The goal in providing these resources is to promote educational excellence in St. Peter Prince of Apostles School by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication with the support and supervision of parents, teachers, and support staff. The use of these technology resources is a privilege, not a right.
With access to computers and people all over the world comes the potential availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in context of the school setting. St. Peter Prince of Apostles School firmly believes that the value of information, interaction, and research capabilities available outweighs the possibility that users may obtain material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the school.
Proper behavior, as it relates to the use of computers, is no different than proper behavior in all other aspects of St. Peter Prince of Apostles School activities. All users are expected to use the computers and computer networks in a responsible, ethical, and polite manner. This document is intended to clarify those expectations as they apply to computer and network usage.
Improper use of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School Technology Resources is prohibited. Uses of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School Technology Resources that are prohibited include, but are not limited to the following:
· Users may not use the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School’s private network to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography of any kind), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).
· Users may not post personal information on the Internet about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, school address, work address, pictures or video bites, clips, etc. Users may not post information about other students or the school for any reason. (This rule includes home users who use St. Peter’s name in any form).
· Users may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any other computer system. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files. These actions are improper, even if only for the purposes of "browsing”, “snooping”, or “electronic discovery”.
· Users may not deliberately disrupt or harm hardware or systems, interfere with computer performance, interfere with another’s ability to use equipment and systems, or destroy data. Users may not use the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School’s private network to engage in illegal acts.
· Users may not post information that could endanger an individual, cause personal damage or a danger of service disruption.
· Users may not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.
· Users may not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users.
· Users may not indirectly or directly make connections that allow unauthorized access to St. Peter Prince of Apostles School’s network.
· Users may not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, hateful, threatening, or disrespectful language.
· Users may not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
· Users may not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.
· Users may not forward or post chain letters or engage in "spamming". Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.
· Users will not install or reproduce unauthorized or unlicensed software.
· Users may not plagiarize works that they find on the Internet or other resources.
· Users may not use computer resources and Internet for private business activities or unreasonable personal use.
· Users may not download, install or store software on a school computer without the approval of appropriate school personnel.
· St. Peter Prince of Apostles School systems or resources may not be used for personal gain, or to buy, sell, advertise, or trade any products or services that are not affiliated with School business.
· Users must demonstrate a high standard of care to protect the personal information of others (including home addresses, telephone numbers, or identification information) that is used for School purposes.
Obligations for use of technology
5. Students will promptly disclose to their teacher or other appropriate school employee any message or information received that is inappropriate.
6. Use of all School technology resources is subject to review, access, and monitoring, even if a private password or other private access code is used. Any use of School resources such as telephones, Internet, e-mail, or other resources is not private and Students/staff and employees should have no expectation of privacy when using such resources for personal use.
As required by law and in recognition of the need to establish a safe and appropriate computing environment, St. Peter Prince of Apostles School will use filtering technology to prohibit access, to the degree possible, to objectionable or unsuitable content that might otherwise be accessible via the Internet.
School personnel provide guidance to the student in internet use and monitor the program to the best of their ability as a regular instructional activity. Controlling all materials on a global network is impossible, and a user may discover inappropriate information or perform inappropriate actions in spite of adult supervision. Therefore, we encourage parents to have a frank discussion with their children about Catholic Christian values and how those beliefs should guide student activities while using the Internet.
School personnel will:
· Teach proper techniques and standards for internet participation.
· Guide student access to appropriate areas of internet.
· Assure that students understand that misuses of the internet could result in loss of access privileges or other privileges.
The student must sign a Student User Agreement before the student is given access to the school’s internet resources. A copy of the agreement is posted next to all computers. School personnel or the parent/guardian may withdraw student internet access at any time.
The parent/guardian is responsible for any damage caused by the student’s inappropriate use of the School’s technology resources.
D Democracy
Ø Highest level of social/moral behavior
At this level students are motivated to be responsible because they know:
ü Their behavior is based on their belief that this is the right thing to do regardless of what their classmates might do or be doing.
ü When operating at this level a student is
-Caring, considerate, shows respect for self, others & property,
-Responsible for his/her own actions & is trustworthy and honest.
ü When operating at this level, a student’s motivation is internal and shows self-discipline.
C Cooperation
Ø Appropriate and acceptable level of social/moral behavior
At this level students are connected with their classmates:
ü They follow the values and rules so that they fit in
ü When operating at this level a student is
-Considerate
-Complies with class and school rules and conforms to peer pressure
ü When operating at this level, a student uses external motivation to gain approval or avoid punishment. (i.e. A teacher or administrator must discipline you to get you to stop or think).
B Bossing/Bullying
Ø Not an appropriate or acceptable level of classroom or school behavior
At this level students try to rule others and do not behave courteously:
ü They disrupt class and are bullying/bothering the teacher by interrupting the lesson, they bully/bother classmates by interrupting their learning.
ü When operating at this level a student
-breaks the rules
-tries to make their own rules and standards.
ü When operating at this level, a student must be bullied/bossed to get desired behavior.
A Anarchy
Ø Lowest and most unacceptable level of classroom or school behavior (it comes from the Greek word that means “without rule”)
At this level, students do not follow rules:
ü They are loud, noisy and boisterous,
ü They often ending up hurting others physically.
ü When operating at this level, a student is not behaving in a civil manner & must be removed from the group.
Suspension is reserved for serious violations of school regulations and is imposed when conferencing has failed. A student may be suspended after a single major violation of rules when their actions have resulted in injury to others. The school carefully documents violations and reasons for suspension and includes the parents in the process. A single suspension ranges from a minimum of an overnight to no more than three days. A parent conference is required prior to re-entry for any suspension.
Expulsion is required when a grave violation, a series of serious violations, or when other means of discipline have failed.
Immediate expulsion is required for extremely grave behaviors such as gang involvement, position/use/delivery of any drugs or alcohol, weapon possession, hreat of bodily injury or harm to another, assault or vandalizingt