These guidelines apply to parents and their children that are enrolled at Blessed Sacrament School.  They are meant to ensure the children have a fun and faith filled learning experience throughout the year. We hope all parents and children will give their wholehearted cooperation in carrying out these policies.

(The listing links primarily to content that is below.  Some of the links are to other areas within our website as well.)

⁽¹⁾ These topics are linked directly to other pages within this website where the information is referenced.

* These publications are available in PDF format; to view them you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free application that you can obtain by clicking here.

Regular attendance is essential to success in school.  A pupil not only misses work on the day of his/her absence but is usually unprepared the following day because he/she missed the instructions for the new work.  This applies to children in all grades.  Regular attendance for the Kindergartner is just as important as it is for the 6th grader.

According to New York State law, your child is required to attend school every day except for illness.  A written excuse is required on the day he/she returns to school after the absence.  Please indicate the cause and date of the absence.  The only legal excuses for absence or tardiness allowed under the education law of the State of New York are:

1. Sickness
2. Sickness or death in a family
3. Impassable roads or weather making travel unsafe
4. Religious observance
5. Approved school supervised trips
6. Required presence in court

If a student is absent, his/her parents are requested to call the school office by 8:30 a.m. to let us know that their child will not be attending school.

Doctor and dentist appointments should be made after school hours, if at all possible.  If a student is to be excused earlier, than regular dismissal time, a parent or guardian should come to the office, and sign the student out.  The child will be called to the office upon your arrival.

Manuscript Tablets	$.75
Cursive Tablets	$.75
Theme Tablets	$.75
Small Pink Erasers	$.10
Topper Erasers	$.05
Pens	$.25
Ink Erasers	$.10
Folders	$.75
Pencils	$.10
Glue	$.50

Pupils in grades K through 6 who live one and one half miles or more from the school they attend are eligible for transportation.  Either a bus pass or tokens are issued by the Syracuse Board of Pupil Transportation.  In addition, busing is provided for students who live west of Teall Avenue and south of James Street.  Please contact us, if you think your child is eligible.

A student is ineligible for participating in any extracurricular activity when he or she receives a grade of E in 2 or more subjects.  The student may become eligible after 20 school days provided that the student has an eligibility form signed by all applicable teachers indicating sings of significant improvement in all subjects involved, and returns the form to the pricipal who will file the form and notify affected persons whether or no the student is reinstated.  A student who is under disciplinary suspension in ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities.

Each parent/guardian shall provide the school with telephone numbers where they may be contacted in the event of unforseen events or emergencies.  Further, if possible, the school requests that the parent provide the name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s) of individuals who could act in the parent's absence should an unexpected event occur and the parents cannot be contacted.

Emergency closings for the entire day or closing early due to inclement weather is decided by the Syracuse District Superintendent of Schools.  Closing notices will be made through local radio and TV stations (WSYR and WHEN especially).  Please do not call the convent or rectory as we also find out only through radio notices.  Please fill out emergency closing forms.

A general field trip permission form should be returned to the school the first week of school.  This covers short walks to the Paine Library and surrounding area.

For trips requiring transportation the following Diocesan policy applies:

Class visits to places of cultural or educational significance give enrichment to the lesson of the classroom.  To insure the desired outcomes of such trips, teachers should prepare pupils for the place that is to be visited and the things that are to be seen.  A discussion should be held regarding the aims and purpose of the trip.

The written consent of parents must be obtained for every child participating in a field trip.  Permission slips must inform parents of the following:

1. Name, location and dates of the event
2. Cost to student
3. Mode of transportation to be used
4. Name of supervisor of the activity
5. Parent's responsibility

No student may participate unless a signed parent permission slip for the specific event is on file with the pricipal.  Consent of one parent is sufficient to authorize the student's participation.  Please note that field trips are privileges and that students can be denied participiation if they fail to meet acedemic or behavorial requirements.

Whenever possible, bus transportation should be provided.  The use of private vehicles is discouraged.

Throughout the school year families will be asked to participate in fund-raising activities.  The profits from these fund-raising activities are returned to the students through the purchasing of educational materials.  In additional these profits generate funds for field trips, computer software, special events, sports programs and more.

For the 2001-2002 school year the following fund-raisers have been planned by the school:

1. Catholic School Marathon and Mini-Marathon (October 13,2001)
2. Q.S.P. Magazine Drive (Spring)
3. Book Fairs (Fall & Spring)

Other fund-raisers are also sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).  We appreciate your help and support in these endeavors.  

Grades are used to indicate achievement and development in each class or suject area in which a student is enrolled.  Blessed Sacrament School uses the following grading system for students in Grades 1 - 6.

Comment Codes:

S = Satisfactory
N = Needs Improvement
X = Does Not Apply At This Time

Work/Study Habits/Behavior 
Comment Codes:

1 = Developed
2 = Beginning to Develop
3 = Not Apparent

Classroom teachers will evaluate students and assign grades according to this established system.  All students are expected to complete the assigned classwork and homework as directed.  Students are also expected to participate meaningfully in class discussions and activities in order to receive course credit.

Partners of students in grades 1 through 6 are informed at least four (4) times a year of their children's progress.  Kindergartners receive evaluations three (3) times a year and Pre-K students twice (2) times a year.

Report Card Dates for 2001-2002 School Year:

November 8, 2001
February 6, 2002
April 10, 2002
June 25, 2002

The gym uniform for children in grades 1-6 consists of the red Blessed Sacrament School tee shirt and navy blue sweatpants.  Tee shirts and sweatpants are to be purchased at school.  The fall and spring seasonal uniform option may be worn as the gym uniform with sneakers on gym days.  An optional blue knit short and long sleeve Blessed Sacrament tee shirt is also available for purchase.

Students in Kindergarten and Pre-K will wear their play clothes and sneakers to school on their gym days.  All other students will wear their gym uniform and sneakers to school on their designated gym day or the fall/spring seasonal option.

The school nurse is provided to our school by the Syracuse City School District five days a week from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Medical inspections will be provided for all students as required by law, including annual medical examinations, vision screening and audiometer tests.

Should you be called that your child is sick, please come into the office to get your child.  We require visual verification as to who is picking up any child.  An emergency number should be on file with us in case we are not able to contact your directly.  Please do not give your home phone as the emergency number.  Any change of address or phone number should be given to the school office as soon as possible.

New York State Law requires all students to be immunized or be in the process of receiving immunization before they are enrolled in school.  Children whose parents cannot afford to have inoculations administered by a private physician may receive them from a local Health Department.

Ideally, all New York State children should receive:

• five (5) DPT immunization (diphtheria, pertusis, tetanus).
• Four (4) does of trivalent oral polio vaccine
• two (2) MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• one (1) HIB (haemophilus influenza type B) and 
• one (1) Hepatitis B Vaccine.

If the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) immunization schedule were strictly adhered to, children would complete this series prior to entering school for kindergarten.

Children who do not meet minimum requirements or fail to complete the balance of the required immunizations in a timely manner will be excluded from school until further immunizations have been obtained.

Also, view information on Medications for Students

Grades K & 1	Tasks are assigned at the teacher's discretion, usually not on a regular basis.
Grades 2 & 3	Homework should not exceed 45 minutes
Grades 4-6	Approximately 60 - 90 minutes

Study time is included in the numbers above.  Not all time should be spent in doing written work.  Homework on the weekend is discouraged unless it is a long-term assignment.

Please continue to save and send in Campbell Soup labels throughout the entire year.  We are able to purchase educational materials for our school with the labels.  Your help and support in this regard will be greatly appreciated.

Every class has time scheduled for our library and hands-on use of computers.

Each week students have the opportunity to borrow books, magazines and videos from our library along with learning specific library skills.

Students also have the opportunity to receive hands-on instruction in our computer laboratory.  All students gain experience in computer programming using basic and logo computer languages, developing keyboarding and word processing skills and utilizing grade appropriate software.

School liturgies are prepared by the teachers and students of various grades each month throughout the school year.  We will keep parents informed of these special liturgies through the monthly school calendar.  Everyone is always welcome to attend these liturgies that the students and teachers have prepared.  The opening school mass is held in September. 

Articles will be kept for claim for 30 days.  Please phone or come into the school office to claim lost articles.  The articles are kept in a box on the bench outside of the office.  Please encourage your child if they have lost something to check the lost and found box.  It would be extremely helpful if students' belongings were properly labeled, especially uniforms and lunch containers.

At times during the school year, the media such as the Catholic Sun come to the school to report on activities at the school.  If parents do not wish to have their child(ren) participate in the coverage, they should make it known to the principal in writing.

Students who must take medication(s) during the school day must present all medications to the nurse, or building principal with the following:

• A written order from a physician for all prescription and non-prescription medications to be taken/used during school hours.  Such orders must include the following:

Student's name	Diagnosis
Name of medication	Dosage and route of adminstration
Self administration orders, if needed	Frequency and time of administration
Date written	Prescriber's name, title and signature
Prescriber's phone number	Conditions under which medications should be administered and frequency

• The parent must submit a medication authorization form requesting administration of the medication in accordance with the physician's directions.  
• All medication must be submitted by the parent to the School Office.  Prescription medication must be in the original pharmacy container bearing the original pharmacy label.  The pharmacy lab must include (a) student's name, (b) the name and phone number of the pharmacy, (c) the licensed prescriber's name, (d) the date and number of refills, (e) the name of the medication, (f) the dosage frequency of administration, and (g) the directions for administration.  Over the counter medications must be in the original manufacturer's package with the student's name affixed to the container.
• The school nurse is responsible for administering any necessary medication if on duty.  Thus, students should report to the Health Office to take medication.  If the nurse is not available, students should report to the main office for administration of medication

If medical conditions require, and if the student is properly trained, a student may be permitted to self-administer medication.  In this case, a Self-Administration Medication form should be filled out and given to the School Office.

Each month a school calendar and newsletter will be posted on this website (Calendar/Events and News to Know) and will be sent home with your child.  The purpose of these communications is to keep you informed of all upcoming events and activities.

Please encourage your child to bring home all school notices.  Students sometimes have the tendency to leave important communictions in their desks.  Please remind them to bring home all papers.

Blessed Sacrament School will presume that the non-custodial parent has the authority to request information concerning his/her child and shall release such information upon request.  Additionally, we will provide the non-custodial parent with access to his/her child's educational records.  If the custodial parent wishes to limit the non-custodial parent's access to records, it is his/her responsibility to obtain and present to the school, a court order or other legally binding instrument that limits or denies access.

The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Syracuse commit themselves to a continued policy that there will be no discrimination because of race, color, gender, national origin, an individual's disability or age.

Parent-Teacher conferences are an important element in reporting student progress to parents.  Sign-up for conferences are provided during Back-To-School Night in September and are typically held in November.

Parents may initiate a conference at any time by contacting us and making an appointment with the teacher or prinipal.  When a parent requests a conference with a teacher, the teacher will make every effort to arrange a mutually convenient time.

If a parent cannot attend a scheduled conference, he/she should contact us as far in advance as possible so that another conference time may be arranged.  It is important to come at your scheduled time to insure a smooth scheduling for all concerned.

All parties should be cleared through the homeroom teacher and principal.  Teachers will communicate with parents in regard to their needs for holiday parties.  Students are allowed to bring in a birthday treat for their classmates, but arrangements must be made with the classroom teacher prior to the treat being brought into school.  It is important to remember that only a small treat should be sent to school along with all the necessary paper supplies to consume the treat.

It is our policy not to allow students to distribute birthday invitations at school.  A list of addresses and names can be obtained for this purpose in the school office.

School pictures are taken each fall of all children in a class in order to compile a class picture.  Individual school pictures will be taken on a prepaid basis.  You will receive a notice with pricing information for the individual pictures.  There will be a makeup date scheduled later in the year for any students who were absent or forgot their money.  picture retakes require that the original picture be returned on the retake date.

It is our policy of the Diocese of Syracuse and the Blessed Sacrament School that all students be free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, in the school environment.  Any allegation that a student has been sexually harassed, or has been involved in sexually harassing another, will be fully investigated.  If the allegations are determined to be valid, appropriate discipline will be imposed.

Sexual harassment may occur in a number of ways including:

• verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
• situations where a student's submission to or rejection of such conduct becomes a basis for academic decisions affecting the student and/or impacts on the learning environment
• when such conduct creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive learning environment.

Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment should immediately report the incident(s) to the building pricipal or guidance counselor so that the matter may be investigated, and the student's welfare protected.  All information gathered during an investigation will be kept confidential to the fullest extent permitted by law.

From 7:15 a.m. until 7:45 a.m. the all-purpose room door is the only point of entry available for students and parents.  From 7:45 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. the front door is the only point of entry for all students, parents and visitors to the school.  All other doors are locked during the school day for the safety and protection of students and staff.

The student day shall be from 8:00 a.m. until 2:15 p.m.  Students who do not ride the bus should arrive at approximately 7:40 a.m. This will prevent their waiting outside during inclement weather.  All students arrieing to school before 7:50 a.m. will remain in the All Purpose Room until the pricipal sends students to class.  Prayers will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students arriving to school after 8:00 a.m. will be marked tardy.  If a student needs to be in the building before 7:40 a.m., the principal must be notified.  The school is not responsible for students on school grounds before 7:40 a.m. and after 2:15 p.m.

Lunch periods are as follows:

Please refrain from special "fast food" deliveries during students' lunch periods.

The Syracuse City School District provides the services of a social worker, school psychologies, and computer-assisted instruction technician for all students who are residents of the district.  The social worker is assigned to Blessed Sacrament School one full-day per week, the psychologist one half-day per week, and a technician five-full days.

In addition, an A.D.A.P.E.P. (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Preventative Education Program) counselor is available two full-days per week.  The services of A.D.A.P.E.P. counselor is provided by a consortium of participating Catholic Schools and O.C.M. B.O.C.E.S.  This couselor meets regularly with individual students who are in of support, provides direct classroom instruction, and coordinates peer mentoring groups and the Banana Splits Program.

Parents who feel their child(ren) may require some assistance from the support staff need to contact the pricipal or classroom teacher to make a referral.

Each month there will be a tag day.  This day will be indicated on the monthly school calander (view Calander/Events).  Students who wish to participate will pay a 25 cent fee which will be put toward student activities, busing for field trips, and donations to the missions and non-profit organizations.  The tag day will be either a dress down day, a dress up day, or there might be a special theme day.  Watch the monthly calendar for details.

Teachers and children are not called to the telephone during school hours except in real emergencies.  If a student has to make a personal phone call while at school, he/she may use the office phone.  Students should make arrangements for going over to one another's homes the night before the office phone should not be used for this purpose.

For a listing of telephone numbers, visit contact us.

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New assessments have recently been developed by the New York State Education Department to be administered in grades 4 and 8 in the areas of Mathematics and English Language Arts.  The 28 New York State learning standards in the seven subject areas are linked to the curriculum and these new assessments through classroom practice and student performance results.  The new assessments replace the Pupil Evaluation Tests previously administered in grades 3 and 6 in mathematics and reading.

In addition, 4th grade students take the New York State Science Test.  Students in grades 2 through 7 will take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in the areas of mathematics, reading and language arts.  Testing is usually in October.

Parents must notify the teacher and the school office at least one week in advance if a pupil is to be withdrawn from the school.  Parents must also sign and return to the office a transfer slip before the records will be released to the new school.  Upon receiving the transfer slip, records will then be sent directly to the school upon their request.

Blessed Sacrament School, like many catholic schools, requires students to wear uniforms during the school day.  

  Please view the links below for uniforms requirements:

Traditional Uniforms

Seasonal Uniforms

Gym Uniforms

Uniform Policy

Traditional Uniforms

Boys:

• Pants:  dark green or navy blue (dress or corduroys)
• Shirts:  plain white, light blue or yelolow; long or short sleeves (no denim or denim-like shirts)
• Solid Colored Sweaters:  hunter green or navy blue (no vests or oversized sweaters; no stripes or designs)
• Ties: plain, dark green or navy blue
• Socks: dark green, navy blue or white

Girls:

• Flynn & O'Hara Jumper-green plaid (Grades K-4)
• Flynn & O'Hara Skirt or Jumper-green plaid (Grades 5-6)
• Blouse:  plain white, light blue, or yellow; long or shirt sleeve; Peter Pan or button down collar (no denim or denim-look blouses)
• Solid-Color Sweaters:  hunter green or navy blue (no vests or oversized sweaters; no stripes or designs)
• Slacks:  dark green, or navy blue (dress or corduroys; no leggings, stirrups, or stretch pants).
• Socks:  dark green, navy blue or white

Shoes must be worn by all students at all times with the uniform.  Rubber-soled shoes are recommended.  Clogs, loosely-fitting shoes, slip-ons, sling-backs, sandals, open-toed shoes, shoeboots, workboots, and hiking boots are not permitted. Sneakers are worn with gym uniform only.

Seasonal Uniforms

Fall/Spring (Sept, Oct., April, May and June ONLY)

• Navy blue dress shorts, white knit shirt with Blessed Sacrament logo worn with white crew socks and shoes.  (Shorts and shirts must be puchased from the Flynn & O'Hara Uniform Company or Atties.  No Exceptions.)

Winter (Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb. and March ONLY)

• White turtlenecks may be worn under sweaters or with jumpers only.

Gym Uniforms:

The gym uniform for children in grades 1-6 consists of the red Blessed Sacrament School tee shirt and navy blue sweatpants.  Tee shirts and sweatpants are to be purchased at school.  The fall and spring seasonal uniform option may be worn as the gym uniform with sneakers on gym days.  An optional blue knit short and long sleeve Blessed Sacrament tee shirt is also available for purchase.

Students in Kindergarten and Pre-K will wear their play clothes and sneakers to school on their gym days.  All other students will wear their gym uniform and sneakers to school on their designated gym day or the fall/spring seasonal option.

Uniform Policy:

If a child is unable to be in their uniform, their parent must write an excuse for their child stating the reason they do not have their uniform on.  Children without a written excuse will receive a warning slip regarding uniform violation.  Whenever a child receives three (3) warning slips, the penalty will be that they will not be allowed to participate in that particular month's tag day.  Your cooperation in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

The principal is to be informed of any visits to the school.  If you have occasion to come to school, please go directly to the school office.  Parents are advised to see teachers after school or at other convenient times to discuss any specific problem that may have arisen.  Parents should call the school office during school hours to arrange an appointment with their child's teacher.  A phone message will be given to the teacher and the teacher will return the call as soon as possible.

Student visitors from other schools are not permitted to enter school unless they have a specific reason and prior approval of the Principal.