Assessing Student Work
Grades will be determined as objectively as possible based on consistent daily preparation, promptness in completing assignments, regular attendance and the quality of classroom work based on:
Oral and written work
Participation in class
Projects
Quizzes
Tests and Homework
Progress Reports
Student progress reports are sent between marking periods to parents/guardians. These reports do not necessarily mean that a student is failing, but notes progress.. Acknowledgement of this report is completed by a parent's signature.
Conferences
Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled in the fall with the homeroom teacher. Please make every effort to attend. Parent/teacher conferences provide an opportunity to discuss the student's progress and performance in detail. Parents/guardians will be notified in regard to the date and time of the conference. Where there is a concern, parents/guardians may call the main office to schedule a meeting with the teacher; or they may contact the teacher directly in writing.



Report Cards

Report cards serve to report student progress on a trimester basis. Grades are based on the student's ability to demonstrate learning. Reports are only one way to measure student performance. Examine your child's report card carefully and discuss the assessment with your child. Sign the designated area and return the required area to school.

   
Report Cards Grades K-8 December, March & June
   
   
Honor Roll

Each trimester, students in grades 4-8 will be recognized for their achievements.

First honors: A or 93 in each academic subject; S in other special subjects

Second honors: B or 85 in each academic subject; S in other special subjects

A student must maintain a satisfactory grade in conduct to be eligible for honors.

 

 

 

Promotion and Retention
Parents are informed of the child's inability to progress satisfactorily. Ordinarily, this requires input from the Child Study Team, diagnostic testing and conferencing. If retention is considered, a conference will be scheduled with parents and the principal.
Any student who does not work to the best of his/her ability and fails two or more major academic subjects (Religion, Lang. Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading) may be retained unless a school approved summer program is completed.Students in grades 6-8 may not remain at St. Joseph Grade School if retention is recommended.

CONDUCT/CONSEQUENCES

 

St. Joseph’s Grade School believes that students are entitled to a safe and ordered learning environment.Staff, parents and administration strive to insure this environment by the implementation of standards on a daily basis.The purpose of standards is to form moral behavior in the children, to teach them a good sense of values and respect for self, for others, and for all property and our earth and responsibility for their actions.Cooperation from parents regarding these standards will reinforce good habits that will last a lifetime. At times, rule infractions warrant stronger measures than simple teacher warnings and notes home. These infractions will be dealt with by using a school-wide discipline policy.

As a consequence to ignoring the conduct standards, a program utilizing an Accountability Card and detention is established for students in Grades 2-8.These students have reached a sufficient chronological and developmental age to be held accountable for their actions.

 

Accountability Cards

Each student in grades 2 through 8 will be issued an accountability card to be attached inside each student’s planner.The accountability card is a tool that is used to help students become more responsible and respectful individuals.It serves as a reminder that all students have choices and with choices come consequences.This is part of teaching and preparing students to act within the guidelines of SJGS.

When an offense occurs, the teacher/administrator will sign the accountability card of the student that caused an offense.An accumulation of five signatures will result in a detention.Loss of an accountability card will result in a detention.Accountability cards will be issued at the beginning of the school year, after a detention, and at the beginning of each trimester.

Student and parents can check the accountability card on a daily basis.Five accumulated signatures will receive detention.

Uniform infraction/personal appearance (makeup, jewelry, nail polish, or hair dye

Unsafe behavior

Missing materials for class

Unkempt desks (materials left around)

Gum/food

Improper use of computer/electronic device

Disruptive behavior

Disrespect to person or property

Improper Language

Class tardiness (departmental)

Public display of affection

Dishonesty

 

Detention

Detention will be held once a week. A notice of a detention will be sent home. A parent signature on the detention indicates notification. All paperwork must be promptly signed and returned to the student’s homeroom teacher to avoid further consequences.Three detentions in any trimester will be deemed as excessive and carry additional consequences. Detention takes the form of a classroom setting or community service.Students may be required to bring a change of clothes.

St. Joseph’s Grade School understands that no one is perfect and everyone falters on his or her path toward completing Jesus’ mission.Consequently, detentions can only be accumulated for one trimester.Everyone is given a clean social and academic slate at the beginning of a new trimester.However, at the end of the school year, a student’s behavior record will be reviewed if warranted (see Disciplinary Review Board.)

Detention will be served for one hour after school, from 2:30– 3:30 in Room 8C.Detention is mandatory and the student must find a ride home from school as transportation is not provided at this hour. There are few acceptable reasons to miss this commitment.The Vice Principal can only issue a detention change of date.All detentions must be served within two weeks of the written notification or the student will become ineligible to participate in other school activities.Students not picked up at 3:30 will be placed in the school After Care program at the parent’s expense.

Primary Level Detentions will be given at the discretion of the administration and teachers for grades K-1.

This consequence is the loss of recess privileges for behaviors which are contrary to school policy.On rare occasions, a standard after school detention will be issued if the circumstance warrants.

 

Behavior Warranting Automatic Detention

(These infractions are deemed serious in nature and do not require any more warning than that given in this handbook)

Vandalism

Fighting, physicality of any kind, disputes among students

Disrespect to any staff, adult or child

Profanity

Defiance and disobedience to any school personnel

Dishonesty:cheating, stealing

Possession of pen, marker, crayon, or any writing or sharp utensil while in school lavatories.

Use of cell phones during school day.

Dangerous play resulting in injury.

Food throwing or food fight

Dangerous actions on playground, classroom or cafeteria

Bus Infractions

Inappropriate behavior

Defamation or destruction of school property

Failure to abide by Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Following 5 tardies.

Disrespect in church.

 

Cheating

Cheating is considered a serious offense, which severely contrasts our Christian values Cheating is a deliberate deception, where a student attempts to give information to another student or acquire information from another student, textbook or notes during a test, quiz or graded assignment.

Consequences for cheating will be grade of “0” and an automatic detention.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the stealing and use of the ideas or writings of another as one’s own.Consequences for plagiarism will be a grade of “0”.

Consequences Of Multiple Detentions In A Trimester

Following/2nd detention

Parent-teacher/homeroom teacher Conference initiated by teacher via

telephone, email, or on site) with parent and homeroom teacher

Report card/progress report may reflect a conduct grade of “N"

Loss of honor roll (conduct grade of “N”)

 

Following the 3rd detention

On-site conference with parent, teacher, student and Vice

Principal to implement a behavioral contract.

Loss of privilege. Privileges include but are not limited to:

casual days, reward days, field trips, etc.

Loss of honor roll (Excessive detention is reflected in Report

Card Conduct Grade: U)

Loss of extra-curricular activities (school sports/clubs)

Disciplinary Review Board will be convened

There may also be:

Suspension

Expulsion

 

Multiple detentions are reflected on the report card with a conduct grade of “N” or “U” however; it is the teacher’s prerogative to give a conduct grade of “N”, regardless of detentions, based on a student’s daily behavior.

Reports of Consequences of Multiple Signatures on

Accountability Card

Four to five signatures may result in an N for conduct.  One detention and a full accountability card (4-5 signatures) may result in a U.Suspension during a trimester may result in an N or U.

St. Joseph’s Grade School understands that no one is perfect and everyone falters on his or her path toward completing Jesus’ mission.

Consequently, detentions and accountability cards can only be accumulated for one trimester.Everyone is given a clean social and academic slate at the beginning of a new trimester.However, at the end of the school year, a student’s behavior record will be reviewed if warranted (see Disciplinary Review Board).

 

 

In School Suspension

If suspended from classes and when school resources permit and warrant, a student will serve an in school suspension.The student will not be permitted to take part in regular classes and after school activities for the period of the suspension.Lunch will be eaten apart from classmates.Daily work will be provided and will be completed outside the regularly assigned classroom.

Out Of School Suspension

When school resources do not permit and when warranted, a student may be required to serve a school suspension at home.Assignments will be provided and it will be the student’s responsibility to complete all assignments before being re-admitted to classes. Suspension in any trimester may result in an N or U on Progress Report or Report Card.

Expulsion

Expulsion is a very serious action, which permanently excludes a

student from St. Joseph’s Grade School.  Expulsion proceedings will be initiated as prescribed by Diocesan School Policy.

Conduct, which is cause for suspension or expulsion shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following:

Possession of a weapon (or anything that can be construed as a weapon).This includes water pistols, pellet guns, spray bottles, etc.

Continued and willful disobedience.

Open defiance of the authority of any teacher or person

having authority

*Physical assault upon another pupil or school employee.

*Taking, or attempting to take, personal property or money from another pupil by means of force or fear.

Willfully causing or attempting to cause substantial damage

to school or personal property, i.e. writing on, tearing of

clothing, books, supplies, equipment, etc.

Habitual use of profanity or obscene language.

*Possession and/or trafficking in pornographic materials.

*Possession, use, or distribution of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or matches.

Leaving school grounds.

*Bullying, harassment and mocking.

Truancy.

Multiple bus infractions.

*These actions may be reported to the Dover Township Police Department.

Disciplinary Review Board

The Disciplinary Review Board (DRB), consisting of a school administrator, teachers and the school certified professional counselor and social worker, will convene any time during the school year when policy warrants and in the spring to review the records of any student having received 3 or more detentions in the school year or who has been suspended during the course of the school year.

The DRB will make recommendations to the principal regarding the re-enrollment status of the student.Re-enrollment recommendation is based on many factors:

 

Children attend St. Joseph’s Grade School to achieve academic proficiency as well as social, spiritual and emotional growth in a safe and secure atmosphere.The school, therefore, reserves the right to refuse to re-register students who interfere with the learning process of others by their disruptive behavior, excessive tardiness, chronic absenteeism, lack of effort in school work or by frequent disregard of standards and consequences.

The school principal and/or representatives of the DRB will confer with parent/guardian based upon the Board’s recommendation.

As stated earlier, the DRB may also convene to comply with school policy to formulate a Behavioral Contract for a student.

 

Truancy
When a student has been absent without parent permission, the parent/guardian and the student are required to meet with the principal before the student can be readmitted to class.


Please refer all uniform questions to Flynn & O'Hara. You may also refer to the Parent and Student Handbook.
Uniforms must be purchased from:
Flynn and O'Hara Uniform Company
(215) 637-4600
1-800-441-4122
Hazlet Store: (732) 888-3883

www.flynnohara.com