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Home and School News
We encourage all parents to get involved with Home and School. We will need much help with our fundraising efforts. We encourage everyone to share ideas and to volunteer throughout the year with HSA.
Visit the HSA page on our website to see the list of events/fundraisers planned for this year.
2023-2024 Home and School Officers
President- Kathy Reaman
Vice-President- Kelly Kisenwether
Secretary- Megan DeAngelo
Treasurer- Billie Jo Wetterau
Coordinator of Fundraising Activities- Karen Weicker
Coordinator of Outreach- Maria McGinley
Email: hsa@sjrschool.com
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. Changes can be made until September 8th. 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.
Supplies Needed
Every year we receive donations of items such as Clorox wipes, hand soap, paper towels and trash bags. We could also always use Band-Aids. 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. The first Scrip order will be September 5th.
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. 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. 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 was emailed to everyone on August 23rd. If you have any questions, please call the school office. The hot lunch program for grades K-8 will begin on Sept. 5th.
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 office.
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 mailed in the August mailing and are also included in the August newsletter and the Family envelope)
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 ECP, 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. The additional cars have the potential for creating unwanted delays that hold up the entire dismissal process and are making it difficult for the buses to safely load and unload. 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 included in the August newsletter and family envelopes)
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 students 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. If a bus needs to wait for a missing student who is delayed, the bus will be directed to the Delayed Bus Holding Area. NO ONE should park on Meadow Ave. at any time before, during, or after the school day. The additional cars have the potential for creating unwanted delays that hold up the entire dismissal process and are making it difficult for the buses to safely load and unload. 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.
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 DISMISSAL. 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 cars 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. This program will begin on September 5th. Click HERE for more information.
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 September 27th.
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. If you need a key card, please contact the school office.
School Pictures
Professional School Photography will take individual student pictures September 13th, and students will be permitted to wear school appropriate dress down clothes on this day. Information from PSP was sent home in the family envelopes.
REMINDERS :
-Please check the August/September calendar for important dates and the Missions Project for September. Click HERE for the August/September 2023 calendar.
We really appreciate all of the kindness and patience as we work through the beginning of the year routines during arrival and dismissal with the students. We will continue to try to make it as time efficient as possible while keeping everyone safe.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus, we ask for Your help as we begin this new school year. Allow us to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before us. Open our eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings. Open our heart and mind to new friends, new teachers and new staff members. Give us a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with our studies and courage to accept new opportunities. Help us to be attentive to one another and let us experience Your presence in our new friends. Jesus, inspire us to do our best this year! Amen
Email your prayer requests to altssj@ptd.net or send a note to the office.
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