-Regular attendance determines participation in sports and special occassion days or events

     -Regular attendance determines promotion

1. Parents must notify the school of absence and/or tardiness
2. The school will call parents if no call is received
3. Students who are tardy must report to the school office and the parent/guardian must sign the student in, in the binder provided.
4. A written excuse must be completed by the parent giving specific reasons for the absence/tardiness pon return to school.
5. If a written excuse is not received within three (3) dys, the absence is recorded as unexcused and is therefore an illegal absence in the Attendance e-school data base program
6. A note must be submitted when a student is to be released early. A parent/guardian must come to the school office and sign the student out before they can be released.
7. A parent/guardian must sign the student in upon return.
8. Anyone signing-in or out, who is not the official parent or guardian, must have a parent's/guardian's written permission to do so. A copy of the person's license will be kept on file.  NO ONE can pick up a child without parental/guardian permission.

Special Notes:

If prolonged absence due to illness is anticipated, the parent(s) should contact he School Office. In consideration of the teacher’s time, requests for classwork or homework due to prolonged illness should be made in the early morning. 

1. all students will sit in their assigned seats;
2. students are to remain seated at all times;
3. the bus driver is fully in charge of the bus;
4. there is to be no eating or drinking on the bus:
5. students file on and off the bus in a single line;
6. courtesy and proper behavior is to be observed at all times;
7. objects such as hockey sticks, glass jars, toys, soda pop, or other items not necessary for school, are not to be brought on the bus

From time to time it is necessary to cancel school because of extreme weather conditions,
equipment or power failure or other emergency reasons. The administration is aware of the hardship
caused by an abrupt cancellation. School will not be canceled unless a significant safety risk has been created by unusual circumstances.

Southtowns Catholic School will be closed if either the Frontier Central or Lake Shore Central School District is closed.

Every practical means is used to notify parents of a cancellation, including radio, school website, School Reach phone system, and television. In the unusual event that school must be closed during the school day, the administration will determine that all
students have satisfactory transportation and supervision at their homes before releasing them from school. Parents are
required to designate an alternate destination for their child(ren) in the event no one would be home. The alternative destination should be indicated on the Emergency Information Form.

When school is closed because of an emergency or inclement weather there will be no after school activities, including sports.

It is very important that the school office maintain an up-to-date address record at the school office.  The school should be notified immediately when there is a change of the student’s address and phone number.

Good health is conducive to the happiness of the individual. Therefore, it is important to teach children to conserve and improve their health and to establish the habits and principles of healthy living. Proper nutrition, rest, sleep, exercise and cleanliness are all necessary for a healthy day. If your child has acquired a contagious disease, please notify the school at once. We will then notify the parents in the respective classrooms. Your child will be readmitted upon doctor’s authorization. Students who require medication during the day must present a dated and signed permission form from the parent and doctor. Parents/guardian should bring the medication(s) to school. A health professional will administer medication including inhalers, nasal spray, etc. in the school health office. Medication must be in its original container.

- Complete and Up-to-Date Address

The Diocese of Buffalo, Education Law and the Social Services Law of New York State clearly and forcefully mandate such
reporting. The statute refers to “reasonable suspicion” of child abuse; therefore, any suspicion must be reported by the Principal to the State Central Registry according to Diocesan guidelines. Our teachers and staff are certified mandated reporters.

The Diocese of Buffalo has instituted “The Safe Environment Program” which includes a Code of Conduct for all adults who work with youth on a regular basis. All adults who work with your child(ren) must abide by and sign the Code of Conduct.

In August 2003, the Western New York Catholic will publish the new Policy Relating to Child Abuse and Sexual Abuse of a Child. The policy is also available on the diocesan website (www.buffalodiocese.org).

  
AHERA regulations require SCS to remind parents and staff annually that it has an Asbestos Management Plan on
file in the School Office and that it is available upon request to be reviewed. SCS is in full compliance with all government guidelines.

In situations where a child is living in a family where there is a custodial/non-custodial issue, the school needs very clear
communications regarding the following: