PARENT - SCHOOL RELATIONS

PARENTAL COMMITMENT

The Catholic Church believes that parents are the first and foremost educators of their children. Therefore, in addition to taking this role at home, parents are encouraged to be active and interested in the life of the school community.  The operation of a successful school depends on participation and support from the parents and friends in the community. The school depends on volunteers for many activities. All parents are encouraged and expected to get involved in activities, including volunteering in the classroom, driving on field trips, and fundraising.

PARENT - TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)

The PTO is a service and information organization for the teachers and parents of St. John’s School.  Its purpose is to offer support and financial aid for the betterment of the school.  All parents and teachers are members of the PTO.  They should make an effort to attend the meetings and support the efforts of the PTO.  Several times during the year, classes will offer a performance at the PTO meeting.  Student attendance is mandatory at these events unless otherwise arranged with the Principal. 

CRUSADER CLUB

The Crusader Club is a parent support group for our P.E. and Athletic programs.  Every parent is automatically a member of the Crusader Club and is encouraged to be involved, especially if their student participates in athletics.

FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION

The fine arts boosters offer support to the fine arts programs at St. John’s.  Parents are encouraged to attend the meetings and offer assistance at various performances given by the performing arts or help during display of the visual arts.

COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES

Communication between parents and teachers is highly important.  Generally there are four ways to communicate with you child’s teacher.  These are: 1) Notes sent via your child, 2) Email, 3) Voice Mail 4) Conferences.  Conferences may be scheduled through the school office or directly with the teacher.  Formal conferences for all parents are scheduled in the fall.

Issues and concerns of any kind should be addressed first with the individual faculty involved.  Typically, ninety-five percent of all problems will be resolved in this way.  If the issue is not resolved by the faculty to the satisfaction of the parent(s), the following sequence must be followed:

1. A parent is to contact the principal.  The principal may arrange a joint meeting between the parent(s), teacher or other staff member, and the principal.
2. If still unresolved, the parent (s) may contact the pastor for consultation.
3. Finally, a hearing of the School Board Conciliation Committee may be requested.  The Conciliation Committee will make recommendations to the principal and pastor.

COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES

The good name, reputation, and personal safety of each student, faculty, and staff member as well as the good name of each school in the Diocese of Birmingham as an institution of the Catholic Church, is vitally important. Two specific aspects of this are:

1. Internet activities (such as blogs, chat rooms, etc.) that a student may independently choose to participate in can make the student vulnerable to predators. We strongly advise our students to be very careful about the personal identification information they share via the Internet. We also advise parents to monitor these sites to be sure their child remains safe. Should information come to the school regarding a student sharing personal identification information and/or information concerning a student demeaning him/herself, the school will notify the parents and it will be the parents’ responsibility to take action.
2. In order to protect each and every student as well as employees and the institution itself each student enrolled in a Diocese of Birmingham Catholic School is expected to treat the good name and reputation of each of the above with dignity and respect. The same is expected of each parent/guardian of a student enrolled in our schools. Public defamation of any of student, employee, or Catholic school by a student or parent/guardian is serious whether this be done orally, in writing, via email or on the web and whether it is done on a school computer or not and on school time or not. Therefore any student or parent found to be participating in any defamatory activity will be subject to disciplinary/responsive action by the school. This could include dismissal of the student whether the action is by the student or his/her parent/guardian.

Class notes from parents to other parents must be approved in advance by the teacher or principal.

FUND RAISING

All fund raising must be done through an organization, with approval in advance from the principal..