B
oard of Limited Jurisdiction
The purpose of this board is to promote and advance the mission of St. Jerome Regional Catholic School for the education and instruction of students in assisting them to "reach the fullness of the Christian life." In keeping with the principles of the Roman Catholic Church, this board collaborates with the pastor and works in partnership with the principal in ensuring that this school fulfills its mission.
Board Members 2018-2019
Nate Johns
Dr.Carmella Shemansik
Dave Bielen
Rev. Allen Hoffa
Leslie Coombe
Lynda Jakubco
Trevor Lawrence
Toni Marie Macaluso
John Pytko
Dan Rickert
Rich Smith
Amy Hannis-Miskar
Home and School News
The Home and School Association would like to thank all the parents for coming to the Meet The Teacher Event and for meeting us. It was great to meet everyone. Just a reminder that our first HSA meeting will be on Tuesday, September 11
th
, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the gym of SJRS. We are currently taking donations for the blockbuster prizes and table prizes for the Basket Bonanza that will take place in November. You can drop them off at the school. Gift cards are always great prizes and you can use SCRIP to purchase them. If you are interested in helping please e-mail us your contact information. Please see the HSA page on the School Website for all forms/updates and a list of HSA events. Thank you.
HSA Board: Karissa Montgomery, Karen Weicker, Amanda Ogozalek and Megan DeAngelo
Option C
Please be sure to read the information that is being sent home about OptionC. It is very important that you login and update your own contact information. Teachers will report attendance and record grades on this online system. Report Cards will also be generated by Option C. We will also use this to send you important emails, texts and phone calls for emergency weather situations and school announcements.
Save, Save, Save
This year we will continue to save the following items:
Box tops for education – General Mills products
Redner receipts – ( must say Save – A – Tape )
Turkey Hill milk caps
Coke Rewards
Saving these items helps us to obtain educational materials or cash- back for our school. Just send any of the items to school with your child.
Supplies Needed
Every year we receive paper donated by various companies or organizations. If you know of anyone who would like to donate computer paper, copier paper, poster board or any other paper products, please call the office. Any donation is truly appreciated. We also use Clorox wipes in the gym and classrooms to disinfect areas and large green/black trash bags daily. If you can donate any of these products or know of a company who would donate these products, it would be greatly appreciated.
Gift Certificates and Scrip Certificates
These are great ways to help with tuition costs. Information is enclosed in the family envelope. If you have any questions please call the office. Many people are saving hundreds of dollars in tuition by purchasing certificates. Certificates are sold from the school office daily during school hours and scrip orders are taken on Tuesdays.
School Wellness Policy
St. Jerome Regional School developed a wellness policy consistent with federal and state requirements. It is located in our student/parent handbook. As we begin our 12th year with this policy, we ask parents to continue to help us promote good nutrition habits in our children. SJRS recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to students’ physical well- being, growth, development, and readiness to learn. The school community is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.
SJRS will support the efforts of parents/guardians to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. Administrators, teachers, food service personnel, students and parents are encouraged to serve as positive role models in the wellness program. Parents are encouraged to provide healthy snacks for their children daily and also when sending snacks to school for birthday or holiday celebrations. Also we ask if you are sending items for class treats please check with the classroom teacher because of students with food allergies. Working together we will provide a healthy environment for our students. Thank you for your cooperation.
School Lunches
Tamaqua Area School District provides our hot lunch program (grades K-8). Information about free and reduced lunches is enclosed in the family envelope and uploaded to the website. If you have any questions, please call the school office. The hot lunch program for grades K-8 will begin on Sept. 4. Information will be sent home in the family communication folder. Students must bring a lunch and a drink for the first week of school.
Nut Free Areas
There are specific areas within the school that are designated as NUT FREE areas. Teachers will make ALL students aware of these areas. The areas will also be marked with a NUT FREE sign. We also ask that all students be sure to wash their hands after eating lunch in the cafeteria. If your child's classroom is NUT FREE, more information will be sent home from the office.
Asbestos
In compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) an inspection for asbestos containing building materials was performed at each of our schools within the Diocese of Allentown. A copy of the inspection’s report is on file in each school’s administrative office for your review any time during normal school hours. In the event you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school’s Principal or the Diocesan Asbestos Coordinator. Edward M. Ritter, Facilities Manager
Absences
Please call us if your child is going to be absent/tardy from school. This will ensure that we know where he/she is and that nothing has happened to him/her on the way to school. If your child is going to be absent or arrive late at school, you are required to call the school by 8:00 AM. Please leave a message if necessary. The number to call to report absences or lateness is 570-668-2757. Your call to let us know your child is not going to be in school does not take the place of an excuse note. PA State requirements and those of the Diocese of Allentown require that for the student’s return to school, the student must be accompanied by a written note stating the particular reason for the absence and the specific date(s) of the absence(s). This note must be signed by the parent/guardian which will become an official document to be placed into the attendance files. A written excuse must be returned within three days to the student’s homeroom teacher when the child returns to school. Note: If an absentee note is not received after three days of absence, the student is considered unexcused and truant. For absences of three or more days, a formal written doctor’s excuse is required. If a student enters school after 10:30 AM or is excused before 1:30 PM, he/she will be considered present for a ½ day only. If your child’s name appears on an attendance report from the homeroom teacher and you have not phoned to inform the school, please expect a call from the school personnel to verify the absence or check on your child’s whereabouts. Your child’s safety and welfare are of prime importance to us.
Arrival in the Morning
(Diagrams were distributed at Meet The Teacher and were emailed through OptionC)
The building will open for students at 7:45AM. For safety reasons, no student may be dropped off before 7:45AM.
Whether you are a car or bus dropping off student(s) at arrival our number one priority is SAFETY. We have put these procedures in place to keep our students safe. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our Safety Coordinator, Mr. Keith Degler.
· A reminder for bus drivers and parents/guardians: Unless you are dropping a child or children off for EPC, students are not permitted in the building before 7:45 am.
· Busses and Drivers: When arriving in the morning please use the Large Loop for student drop off. Please follow the direction of our staff. Vehicles will be brought to the sidewalk drop off area (highlighted in orange beginning at the east corner of the school and ending at the west corner of the school) in groups. Once all of the students have cleared to buses and vehicles our Safety Coordinator will dismiss the vehicles. Those waiting in line in the Large Loop will then be directed to pull forward with the first car stopping at the corner of the Large Loop and Meadow Ave.
· If you need to come into the Main Office for school business please use the Small Loop. Drivers only dropping off should not use the Small Loop. If this becomes an issue we will close off the Small Loop completely and those parking will need to use the main parking lot.
· NO ONE should park on Meadow Ave. at any time before, during, or after the school day. Parents/guardians visiting the school during the school day may park their cars along the school sidewalk from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM for brief office business. Anyone coming for meetings or a visit longer than 15 minutes should Parent/Visitor Parking Lot.
Safety at Dismissal
(Diagrams were distributed at Meet The Teacher and were emailed through OptionC)
Parents are reminded to meet the car riders and walkers in the school parking lot. The front of the school needs to be clear at dismissal for the designated spots for bus riders. Thank you for your cooperation.
Your child's safety is our greatest concern. We also want each child to feel safe and secure the first days of school. Please plan transportation ahead of time. Last minute calls to the school office are stressful for the children and the staff. Only call in case of an emergency change.
Whether you are a car or bus picking up student(s) at dismissal our number one priority is SAFETY. We have put these procedures in place to keep our students safe. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our Safety Coordinator, Mr. Keith Degler.
· BUSES: Buses will be parked in the Large Loop prior to dismissal. Bus drivers will line their bus in order of arrival around the large loop. The first group of student to be dismissed will be the bus riders. Once all of the buses are filled we will dismiss the buses as a group. Once all of the buses have left the property we will lead the car drivers from Carmen St. into the Large Loop for pick up. N.B. If a bus needs to wait for a missing student who is delayed the bus will be directed to the Delayed Bus Holding Area.
· DRIVERS: When arriving to the area around SJRS please line up single file along Carmen St. on the right side of the road so that the neighbors can access their properties from Carmen St. Once the buses have been dismissed we will direct the drivers to enter the Large Loop. Once everyone is on the loop we will walk the students past the parked cars to connect them with their drivers. NO ONE WILL BE PERMITTED TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL DURING DIMISSAL. Once all students have been connected with their drivers or have been returned to the school to wait for a late pickup, we will dismiss the car drivers. Students will not be permitted to walk to car parked on Meadow Ave.
Extended Care Program
We will continue the Extended Care Program (ECP) at SJRS this school year. The hours will be 7- 8 AM. and 2:45-3:45 PM. Please see the website for forms and more information on ECP.
Family Survey
Please be sure to return the family survey that will be sent home the first week, which is required for us to participate in federal programs for materials and services. Please do so immediately. We need 100% of our families to respond before we can receive federal funding. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. (If you misplaced the form, please send a note to the office for another one.)
Tuition Chance
This year we will again sell tuition chances to help you win money toward your tuition bill. The chances are $1 each and paper slips are in the family envelope. If you want to purchase the chance, fill out the slip and enclose money in an envelope marked tuition chance. This is not a fundraiser. All money collected will be awarded to the winning student’s tuition account. If your tuition is fully paid, credit will be applied to next year’s bill. The first drawing will be on Sept.25
th
. .
Boyer's Key Cards
We receive money for using Boyer’s key card when shopping at Boyer’s. Boyer’s donates 1% of purchases made using the key card. We received a check from Boyer’s Caring and Sharing rebate program last year. If you need additional key cards please contact the school office.
School Pictures
Professional School Photography will take student Group (class) pictures on Friday, September 21
st
. All students must be in full dress uniform. Individual student pictures will be taken on September 18
th
and students will be permitted to wear dress down clothes on this day. More information on individual pictures will be sent later. (Photo releases MUST be signed to be included in group pictures)
Dedication Mass with Bishop Schlert
September 6th Bishop Schlert will be the main celebrant and homilist for the dedication Mass at which time he will bless the new school. Mass will be at 5:30 with a picnic dinner to follow. The school will be open to view, with a chance to meet the staff, talk with other school families and to take a few fun SJRS pictures. It is for all students, staff, parents & guardians and we want to see you all there! All Are Welcome! We want this event to be a fun celebration for SJRS! Please complete the registration form, and be sure to return it to us before August 31
st
.
REMINDERS
:
-There is no school on Friday, August 31
st
.
-Please fill out and sign all first week envelope papers and return by September 7th.
-Please check the August/September calendar for important dates.
- Our first mission project will be to help raise funds for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV). On Thursday September 20
th
we will have a Dress Down Day for a donation of $1.00. All proceeds will be given to the PCFLV.
We want to say thank you to the many businesses that we hired over the summer to complete all of the work on our new school building. They all did a fantastic job. Please support their businesses:
Joe Hnat-Painting
Carl Marzan- Smartboard install, security install, keying
McNulty's Flooring-Carpet and Classroom Floors
Stoney Lonesome - Cement work outside
Bartush Signs- signage on front of building
Microinnovation- IT set up and support
O'Brien's Moving Company
Caroline Elle Boutique
