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FAQFrequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
What time should students arrive at school? Students should arrive at school at 8:00am. You may enter at that time through the auditorium doors along 4th Avenue. Frequent latenesses cause a disruption to the class. Dismissal is at 2:15pm. The students will be dismissed from the exit along 97th Street closest to 4th Avenue. What happens if my child is absent? Please call the office and inform the secretary. Any missed work will be completed when your child returns to school. It will be his/her responsibility to find out what needs to be completed. There are no make-ups for missed tests and quizzes. Also, if your child is absent, please make sure to send in an absent note on the day he/she returns to school. Taking vacations during the school year is considered an unexcused absence. The children should wear the proper uniform. For boys, shirts should be tucked in and belts should be worn. Hair should be kept short. For girls, hair should be tied back and school sweaters should be worn. No makeup or dangling earrings are permitted. Gym uniforms should look neat and clean. How is a student's grade calculated? I base a student's grade on different things, including class participation, average of test scores, homework, published writing, note-taking skills, oral reading skills and reading comprehension. How can I arrange a meeting with the teacher? If you ever need to meet with me for any reason, you can either call the office, send a note in with your child, or e-mail me. I will respond promptly. Do I need to attend the Home School Ass. meetings? Your attendance at these meetings is encouraged. During the first meeting in September, you will meet your child's teachers and receive pertinent information / handouts which you will need to refer to throughout the year. At the meeting in June, you will meet with your child's future teacher and be briefed on information pertaining to the following school year. What is the High School process and how can I prepare my child? Within the first two months of school, it is recommended that your eighth grader take two very important high school exams. One is the TACHS Exam for admittance to Catholic High Schools and the other is the Specialized Public High School Entrance Exam. The scores your child receives, along with academic performance, will help determine where your child will be attending high school next year. Preparation courses are given in our area and are recommended. We will also utilize school time to help the students prepare for these tests, however, keep in mind that we are very limited on time. I am always available to speak with you and your children to help them make the best decisions for their upcoming year. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to obtain information about any scholarships or exams for private high schools, such as Poly Prep. Also, students needing letters of recommendation should ask a teacher they currently have and should give that teacher a week's notice. Regis, Sacred Heart, Marymount, Loyola, etc. have separate admissions processes. What are the requirements for graduation and/or promotion? A student must successfully complete his/her course study at St. Patrick. Failure to do so will result in the student having to attend summer school. If a student fails three subjects for the year, retention may be necessary. If an eighth grader fails three subjects for the year, he/she will not receive his/her diploma until summer school has been successfully completed. How can I stay on top of my child's education? Every student should keep a record of his/her assignments in their agenda book. Please check this book every night to make sure each assignment has been completed. I might also suggest checking the assignment for spelling and grammatical errors as well. Proofreading and editing all writing assignments is an essential step in doing well. Also, please note when your child has an exam. I usually return my tests within a few days to a week, so be persistent in asking your child what score he/she received. Interim progress reports go out three times a year. Report card conferences are held twice a year. Do you assign any extra credit work? I do not give extra credit assignments on a regular basis. I do, however, give a student extra points for turning in writing assignments for essay/poetry contests that sometimes come across my desk. Students are given the details as the contests come in. In addition to studying, how can my child succeed in school? Note-taking and organizational skills are very essential to being successful in school and in life. Pink vocabulary index cards should be carried and studied. Reading daily, whether it be books, newspapers or magazines, can help a student struggling with comprehension skills. Turning in homework assignments on time, participating in class discussions, and coming prepared to class are also important factors in doing well and succeeding. Failure to bring workbooks, notebooks and textbooks to class results in the student falling behind. What is the purpose of the Behavior Reflection Room? The Behavior Reflection Room is a resource room made available during lunch to students who do not follow the rules of the school. Once the student eats his/her lunch, he/she must complete an essay on why they broke the rules and how they plan to better follow the rules in the future. More than three Behavior Reflection Room notices will result in the student receiving an unsatisfactory grade in conduct on their progress report. Also, the student forfeits the right to dress down days. Behavior Reflection Room logs are mailed home periodically throughout the year. If the inappropriate behavior continues, the parent/guardian will be called up to meet with a tribunal of teachers. More than fifteen relection logs for the year results in the student forfeiting his/her graduation trip. Does the school have a cell phone policy? Junior high students usually walk home from school either alone or with a classmate. I understand, that for this reason, an eighth grader may need to carry a cell phone with him/her. Cell phones may be carried (turned OFF and out of sight) only if there is a parent note on file requesting that their child be permitted to carry a cell phone to school. All other electronic devices are forbidden. Mrs. Keenan - eighth grade homeroom and english language arts Mrs. Shapiro - seventh grade homeroom and mathematics Mrs. Gammone - sixth grade homeroom and social studies Mr. Barone & Mrs. D'Emic - science, lab, health and science essays Mrs. Biondo - library and research skills Ms. Zaikowski - computer Mr. Turro - physical education Mrs. Geraci - art Mr. Bruschi - music, boys' choir, orchestra Ms. Oksana - girls' chorus |
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