St. Bernadette School - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Parents are the most important people in their child's life. Parents are the first educators of their children and are the ones to whom they look to bear witness of the fruits of religious and academic training. Teachers and parents must remain positive role models for their children. Therefore, teachers and parents must cooperate as partners.

CHILD CUSTODY NOTIFICATION
Parents shall notify the School if a student is the subject of a court order which restricts the custody, placement, or contact of either parent with the child. A form for notifying the School is available in the School Office or in the Appendix of the Family-Student Handbook. The parent shall include a copy of the court order along with the notification form.

Student Information
If a court has issued an order affecting the physical placement of a child pursuant to Wis. Stat. 767.24 (or a comparable statute of another state), copies of the student progress report (report card) shall be issued to both parents in conformity with Wis. Stat. 118.125(2)(a) unless one parent has been denied periods of physical placement with the child by the court under Wis. Stat. 767.24(4), in which case no student information will be provided to the parent who has been denied periods of physical placement, in conformity with Wis. Stat. 118.125(2)(m).

OTHER THAN PARENTAL CARE
If a child will be under the care of someone other than the parents/guardians for an extended period of time, as in the case of a "parents only" vacation, the School Office should be notified of this and given the emergency contact.

EMERGENCY FORM

Contact information is obtained from the "Emergency Form" filled out by parents at the beginning of each school year. This information should be updated by parents throughout the year as changes occur, including phone number, address, and work phone. Please do not assume that because your child knows the brand new address or phone number, the Office also knows. Written notification of changes should be sent to the Office immediately.

MUTUAL SUPPORT
The school staff needs to know that school authority is not undermined or demeaned in the home, just as parents have the right to expect that the school will support and not undermine their parental authority. If there is a difficulty with a school or classroom policy, this should be discussed between the parent and the school personnel involved. Parental cooperation is essential for the welfare of students. If, in the opinion of the administration, parent behavior seriously interferes with the teaching/learning process, the School may require parents to withdraw their children and sever the relationship with the School.

LITURGY AND PRAYER

We celebrate our life experiences as a Christian community through liturgy and prayer. Our children participate in:

Daily classroom prayer using a variety of media and methods, songs, formal prayer, spontaneous prayer, or scriptural reflection.
Classroom or all-school paraliturgies called forth by special events or seasons of the year.
Eucharistic liturgies which vary from individual grade to total school involvement.
Sunday Eucharistic liturgies with family in the context of the larger parish community.

Through these experiences, it is hoped:

that children personally come to know and relate to God as One who loves and cares for them.
that children grow in their Christian faith through familiarity with the person of Jesus and His message in the Word.
that children are aware of belonging to a community of faith and that their concerns for the needs of the wider community grow.
that children respond in service to the word of God shared each week.

COMMUNICATION

Regular and effective communication between family and school is essential. Good, constructive communication does not include gossip or rumors. Ultimately, it is only the families and School that both suffer due to these activities. All families need to keep their communications positive. There are many opportunities to receive complete and correct information if parents are unsure of a specific matter. This communication can be accomplished through several of the following means and parents are strongly encouraged to become active and informed participants in their school environment.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

First Quarter - A mandatory conference is held with the family of each student at progress report time.

Second Quarter - A conference can be scheduled by either teacher or parent. Progress reports are sent home with the students to the families not needing or desiring a conference at this time.

Third Quarter - A mandatory conference is held with the family of each student at the middle of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter - No conferences are held at the end of the school year. Progress reports are sent home with the students.

Additional Conferences - Teachers or parents may request a conference at other times of the year when a need arises. In the interest of the educational process, parents are requested to set up an appointment with the teacher for these extra conferences, and not expect the teacher to take time from teaching or supervisory duties by simply arriving at the classroom door with no prior notification. This includes before and after school, since these are times designated for teacher preparation and student help.

HOME AND SCHOOL MEETINGS

Each family belongs to the Home and School Association. The Association was established "for the purpose of effective communication and cooperation between parents and educators dedicated to the best Catholic education for each child." Attendance at all Home and School meetings is essential as an important step in keeping lines of communication open.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

This Committee distributes regular updates of various activities to school families and to the Parish. This committee meets monthly and the meetings are open to all school/parish families. The Committee has parental representatives from various grade school levels and any pertinent topic or question can be presented to or discussed with those representatives.

WEEKLY NOTE
A note will be sent home with each student on the second-last school day of each week (usually Thursday). This note always contains important information on various activities as well as updates. It would be good to get into the habit of ensuring your child gives you this note each Thursday evening and you read it with your child.

NOTES

Frequently it is necessary for the School to send a note other than the one on Thursday. In addition, a teacher may send a note pertaining to an individual situation. A note from a teacher should receive a response from you immediately, even if it means merely your signature on the note and returning it with your child the next morning. Again, get the children into the habit of delivering all notes immediately. In the event parents need to send a note to the teacher, copies of notes are provided in the Appendix of the Family-Student Handbook.

WEBSITE

The St. Bernadette School website, www.stbweb.com, can be a good source of general information. Updated information will be included as may be appropriate. Construction of this site is ongoing and your comments are appreciated. E-mail the webmaster at tmoniot@archmil.org.

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