Mrs. Joann Heppt

Principal

Father Salvatore J. Amato

Administrator

Parent Handbook

Admission and Registration Policy

Resurrection Ascension School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Resurrection Ascension School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admission policies, loan programs and athletic or other school administered programs.

The annual registration period will be announced through the Sunday bulletin and our website. The following are required for registration:

• Birth and Baptismal certificates
• Immunization history
• Registration fee
• Social Security number

Those applying for entrance into grades 1 through 7 must bring:

• Copy of most recent report card
• Standardized test results

According to Diocese of Brooklyn guidelines:

• Nursery students must be 3 years old on or before December 31st of the year they are enrolling


• Pre-Kindergarten students must be 4 years old on or before December 31st of the year they are enrolling


• Kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before December 31st of the year they are enrolling

Attendance

Student Absence
For absences of more than one day, please inform the school (426-4963) before 10am. If you would like to pick up your child's homework, please call the school office by 10am to allow ample time for the teachers to assemble the day's assignments. The day your child returns to school he/she must bring a note explaining the absence, dated and signed by a parent. If an absence note is not received, your child's absence is recorded as illegal. Vacations taken while school is in session are considered illegal by state law and must be noted as such on school records.

Arrival and Dismissal

• Nursery: Nursery students will line up near the garages on 61st Road.
  During inclement weather, teachers will open this door 10 minutes early to escort the children to their classroom.


• AM Class: Children must be in school by 8:30am. Parents will not be allowed to accompany students to the classroom. Children will be dismissed at 11:00am in the same area.


• PM Class: Children must be in school by 12:00pm. Parents will not be allowed to accompany students to the classroom. Children will be dismissed at 2:30pm in the same area.


• Pre-K to 8: Children enter through the church doors on 61st Road. All students must be in school by 8:15am. Parents will not be allowed to accompany students to the classroom.

Dismissal will take place at the times and places listed below:

• Pre-K and Kindergarten will dismiss at 2:25pm in the small schoolyard on Eliot Avenue


• Grades 1-3 will dismiss at 2:30pm in the small schoolyard on Eliot Avenue


• Grades 4-8 will dismiss at 2:45pm through the side door of the church on 61st Road.

The school grounds are not playgrounds. Students will not be permitted to play in the yard before or after school begins. Students will not be permitted to play in the baci courts next to the church. No ball playing is permitted at any time.

Please do not park in the Staff Parking Lot or double-park your car. This creates a hazardous situation for our students and everyone involved. The large parking lot on Woodhaven Blvd. is available for all parents at arrival and dismissal.

Lateness

The school doors open at 8:00am every morning. Students in Pre-K through 8 arriving after 8:15am will be considered late and must stop at the office for a late pass. Children who are late 5 times in a month will serve a morning detention. Children who are never late in a trimester will be rewarded with a dress down day. In order to maintain necessary security, parents will not be allowed to accompany a child to his/her classroom.

Before and After School Programs

The Before School program is available to Pre-K to Grade 8 students from 7:00am to 8:00am. Students are supervised by a teacher and receive a healthy breakfast.

The After School program is available to all students from dismissal until 6:00pm. The program provides students the opportunity to complete homework, have a nutritious snack, and engage in a variety of leisure activities. If a child is picked up after 6:00pm, a late fee will be charged. Please call the After School number, 718-478-4344, if you are going to be late.

Registration will take place the first week of September. The registration fee is $50. Please contact the school office for monthly fees or further information.

Birthday Parties

Birthday celebrations are permitted in Nursery through Grade 3 only. Please notify your child's teacher at least one week in advance if you are planning to send in a treat for that day. Birthday celebrations are limited to cupcakes, cookies small juice drinks and/or goody bags. No pizza parties, birthday cakes or candles will be permitted. Videotaping of the students in the class is also not permitted.

Children in any grade are not permitted to distribute invitations to parties unless every student in the class is invited.

Child Abuse Laws

Under NYS law, school officials are legally obligated to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the proper agency.

Code of Conduct

Children have the right to learn. Teachers have the right to teach. The students of Resurrection Ascension School are expected to follow the teachings of Jesus, and conduct themselves in a Christian manner.

Cooperation between home and school is essential in implementing discipline. The Administration and Faculty reserve the right to discipline any child who infringes upon the rights of other students, faculty and staff.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Every student has the right to feel safe from bullying at school. It is our aim to promote positive student behavior and encourage respect, compassion and cooperation. Any student who engages in bullying or cyber bullying behavior is subject to disciplinary action.
Suspensions
Suspensions may occur for the following offenses: carrying a weapon, stealing, physical fighting, leaving school without permission, defacement or destruction of school property, smoking, selling or possessing drugs, and truancy.

The procedure for suspensions is as follows:

• Parents will be notified by telephone of the child's offense.


• A conference will be held with the student, parents, teacher and administrator.


• If a suspension is given, students will be either in the care of the parent or in the care of the administrator.


• The final decision rests with the administrator.


• Subsequent suspensions may result in a student's expulsion.

Communication

Parent Teacher Meetings
Parents are encouraged to communicate with their child's teacher. However, it is necessary to arrange an appointment either by phone or in writing. Parents and teachers can arrange a time that is mutually convenient.

Family Information
Emergency cards must be filled out with an address, home phone number, work phone number, cell phone number and emergency number. In the event of a change of address, or any of these phone numbers, please notify the office immediately.

Custodial Issues
If, in the case of divorced parents, the divorce decree states that a child may not be released to a non-custodial parent, it is the custodial parent's obligation to furnish the school with an official copy of the custody section of the divorce decree. Orders of protection for children should also be brought to the attention of the administration and copies must be on file. Non-custodial parents will have access to their child's educational records unless a court order to the contrary is provided to the school by the custodial parent.

Communication Envelope
A weekly communication envelope will be sent home with the oldest child in the family every Wednesday. This envelope will contain important notices for the week. The envelope should be emptied, signed and returned the next day. Lost envelopes will cost $1 to replace.

Monthly Calendar
On the last Wednesday of every month, a calendar will be sent home with the events of the next month listed. On the reverse side will be a school newsletter highlighting the good news about our school.

Other Events
Here are some other ways a parent can keep abreast of school news:

• Back to School Night in September
• Home School Association Events
• Progress Reports distributed every trimester
• Report Card Days


• School and Home School Association Websites

Computer Use Policy

An acceptable use policy is in place for Resurrection Ascension School and is distributed with this handbook. We ask that this policy be signed by both the parents and students and returned to school.

Crisis Plan

In accordance with diocesan policy, Resurrection Ascension School has a comprehensive Crisis Plan in place in case of emergency. The plan is available for review in the school office. In the event that the school needs to be evacuated, the children will be brought to the Dry Harbor Nursing Home.

Curriculum

All teachers follow the New York State Learning Standards. Religion teachers follow the Diocese of Brooklyn guidelines developed by the Office of Faith Formation.

All students in grades Pre-K to 8 receive instruction in the following subjects:

• Religion


• English Language Arts


• Math


• Science


• Social Studies


• Computer


• Library


• Music


• Art


• Physical Education

In addition grades 6, 7 and 8 receive instruction in Spanish.

Dress Code

The school uniform confirms a child's attendance at Resurrection Ascension School. When wearing the school uniform students should remember that they are a reflection of themselves, their parents and the school they attend. Their behavior should be a credit to their families and to the school community.

All children are expected to adhere to the following requirements:

Grade K-5 Girls:

• Plaid regulation jumper that falls at the knee


• Yellow blouse with rounded collar


• Plaid regulation tie


• Navy blue or green socks or tights


• Black or blue oxford (laced) or Mary Jane (strapped) shoes - No loafers or slip-ons

Grade 6-8 Girls:

• Plaid regulation skirt that falls at the knee


• Yellow blouse with pointed collar tucked into skirt


• Navy blue regulation vest


• Navy blue or green socks or tights


• Nave blue or black oxford (laced) or loafer - No heels, no ballerina slip-ons, no Sketchers

Grade K-8 Boys:

• Navy blue pants - No Dockers or cargo pants. Pants must sit at the waist and must not be baggy at the bottom.


• Light blue dress shirt - No dark blue or denim shirts


• Plaid regulation tie


• Black belt


• Black oxford (laced) shoes

Sweaters: Navy blue cardigan (button-down) or pullover knit sweaters are permitted. Any non-uniform sweater (sweatshirts, fleece shirts, hoodies) are not permitted.

Summer Uniforms may be worn from the first day of school until October 31st and from May 15th until the last day of school.

Boys: Boys may wear a light blue polo shirt with the navy blue RA logo. Boys in grades K-5 may also wear navy blue dress shorts.

Girls: Girls in grades K-5 may wear a yellow polo shirt with the navy blue RA logo and a navy blue skort. Girls in grades 6-8 may wear a yellow polo shirt with the navy blue RA logo tucked into their skirt.

Gym Uniform:
Students wear their gym suit to and from school. Sneakers must be worn on gym days. Students may wear either the yellow T-shirt with blue shorts or the regulation royal blue sweat suit. No jewelry may be worn on gym days.

All of the above items may be purchased online at www.flynnohara.com, by phone at 800-441-4122 or at the store: Flynn and O'Hara, The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Avenue, Lower Level, Glendale, 718-326-2704.

Girls are not permitted to wear the following:

• Make-up including shiny Chap-stick


• Nail polish or fake nails


• Bracelets


• Earrings larger than a dime or dangling earrings


• Body piercings other than ears


• Unnatural hair colors

Boys are not permitted to wear the following:

• Earrings


• Long hair below the collar or that obstructs vision


• Inappropriate hair designs or colors

The administration and faculty will judge whether a student is in conformity with the dress code. There will be regular uniform checks throughout the year. Detention may be given to students who are repeatedly out of compliance with the dress code.

Dress Down Days
Periodically, the students will be permitted to wear their own clothes on special dress down days. We ask parents to be mindful of the fact that the children will still be attending classes on these days, and therefore must be dressed appropriately. The following are not permitted: high heels, tank tops, tight pants or leggings, or short skirts or shorts. All blouses must cover the stomach even when sitting.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Our school is committed to the prevention of alcohol, drug and tobacco use. We have employed the use of a counselor from the Program for the Development of Human Potential (PDHP) that is funded through the New York State Division of Substance Abuse Services and sponsored by the Office of the Superintendent. First time possession, use, sale or distribution of any controlled substance may result in suspension. Counseling will be a condition of a student's reinstatement to school. Subsequent offenses may result in expulsion.

Emergency Closing

The closing of school due to snow or other emergency is usually a local decision. There are many ways to find out if school is closed:

• The homeroom teacher will initiate a phone chain


• Listen to 1010 WINS-AM or watch WCBS-TV (Channel 2)


• Check our website or the Home School website

Please do not call the school or rectory, as there is no way to handle that volume of calls.

Extra Curricular Activities

Extra Curricular activities add to the education of your child. Your child should be aware of the responsibilities of joining a team or club. In addition, extra-curricular activities should not interfere with schoolwork.

Field Trips

These trips are planned as part of the curriculum and it is ideal for all children to attend. They usually require transportation and admission fees, which are not included in the tuition or activity fee. It is the right of the school to deny a student attendance on a trip, if the student fails to meet academic or behavioral requirements. No student will be permitted attendance on a trip without written permission from parent/legal guardian.

Health

The school nurse may be contacted at 718-426-2347.

Immunization
The New York City Department of Health requires all children from Nursery through Grade 8 to have a complete physical examination before entering school. In addition children must be immunized according to age specifications against the following diseases:

• Diphtheria


• Tetanus


• Polio


• Whooping Cough


• Measles


• Mumps


• Rubella


• Hib (Influenza Type B)


• Chicken Pox


• Hepatitis B


• Pneumococcal (For students born after 1/1/2008


• Mantoux Tuberculin Test (PPD) (For all students entering a New York City School for the first time in grades 6-8

Information on age specific requirements may be obtained from the Department of Health. The policy of: "No Shots, No School" will be strictly enforced.

Height and Weight
A record is kept of each student's height and weight reported by the parent on the Emergency Cards distributed at the beginning of the school year.

Vision ScreeningThe Department of Health Vision team screens children in grades K, 1, 3 and 5 and those recommended by the teacher or nurse. If your child does not pass this screening, you will be notified in writing.

Communicable DiseasesPlease report any communicable diseases to the school office. These include measles, mumps, chicken pox, scarlet fever, rubella, head lice, hepatitis, tuberculosis, whooping cough (pertussis) or meningitis.

Illness in SchoolIf your child becomes ill while in school, we will attempt to make the contacts indicated on your Emergency Contact Card. It is necessary for the child to be signed out by the adult who will be taking him/her home. No child will be allowed to go home alone during the school day.

Accident or InjuryWe will follow the same procedure described for illness. All of the children are enrolled in the school insurance plan issued by American Home Assurance Company. It provides coverage during school hours or during any school affiliated activity.

Administration of MedicationIf a student must take medication during school hours, the parent and the child's doctor in accordance with New York City and State requirements must fill out authorization forms. Only a school nurse can administer medication. School personnel are not permitted to administer medication.

Home School Association

All parents are members of the Home School Association. Led by the Executive Board, the Association provides many social activities for the children, parents and parishioners of Resurrection Ascension. In addition they coordinate the fundraising activities that are a necessary part of the operating expenses of the school.

All of these activities require the time and talent of many people. We ask each family to sign a contract requiring them to volunteer 10 hours during the school year. These hours may be accomplished through fundraisers, school committees, lunch duty, the RA Sports program or the Sunday School program. Any family that feels that they cannot give this time during the year may opt out of the contract and pay a fee of $100 to the Home School Association.

This year there will be three mandatory fundraisers: Gift Wrap Drive, Chance Book Drive and Candy Drive. All families in Pre-K to 8 must participate in these events. If you wish to opt out of participating in these fundraisers a fee of $200 may be paid at the beginning of the year. There will also be some optional fundraising events in which parents may choose to participate.

Homework

The purpose of homework is threefold: 1) to practice what has been taught in class, 2) to further learning of a particular topic, and 3) to measure the level of understanding of a particular topic.

Homework may take many forms:

• Written assignments


• Review of the day's notes


• Study for tests


• Independent projects or reports


• Independent reading

Students in grades 3-8 should be writing all assignments in script, unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.

Parents should provide a place for homework conducive to study and free of distraction.

Children will have homework on most nights of the week. Below is the approximate length of time it should take your child to complete their homework, including both written work and silent reading. For the most part, children should be able to complete the homework assignments on their own. If your child is taking much longer to complete his homework assignments, please consult the homeroom teacher. Homework should be signed every night. In grades 3-8, all homework should be done in script, unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.

Grade ----------- Homework Time ----- Silent Reading
Kindergarten --- 10 minutes ------------ 15 minutes
1st Grade ------- 25 minutes ------------ 15 minutes
2nd Grade ----- 30 minutes ------------ 20 minutes
3rd Grade ------ 40 minutes ----------- 20 minutes
4th Grade ------ 50 minutes ------------ 30 minutes
5th Grade ------ 50 minutes ------------ 30 minutes
6th Grade ------ 60 minutes ------------ 30 minutes
7th Grade ------ 60 minutes ------------ 30 minutes
8th Grade ------ 60 minutes ------------ 30 minutes

Daily notes should also be reviewed nightly. Projects given may require additional time. When a project is given, every effort will be made to lessen the amount of daily homework given. In addition, the project may be graded across the curriculum. That is, a written Social Studies project may receive a grade for both Social Studies and Language Arts.

If there are errors in homework, these mistakes should be left as is. The teacher needs to see what part of the daily lesson the students did not understand. If your child has difficulty with the entire assignment, then please write a note to your child's teacher. Children will not be penalized for incorrect homework. Homework is judged both by quality as well as quantity.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any information downloaded from the Internet must be properly cited. Students handing in plagiarized reports will be given a 0 and will be asked to redo the assignment.
If your child is absent from school and would like the day's assignments, please call the school office (426-4963) before 10am to give the teachers time to adequately prepare the work.

After School
Every effort will be made to be sure that your child's homework is completed. Our After School workers will follow the same guidelines listed above. After School workers will not be able to reteach the day's lesson, nor tutor individual students. On days when the children have tests, they may spend some time in After School studying, but that does not qualify as enough preparation for a test. They must do the majority of their studying at home.

Honors

Honors are awarded at the end of each marking period to recognize academic achievement. Any student in grades 5 through 8 who achieves an average of 90 or above in every subject, is eligible for honors. Candidates for honors must also have an S or above in all personal progress areas.

Student of the Month awards recognize qualities in students that make them good citizens and good Christians. The quality for each month is based on the life of a saint. Students are awarded certificates at monthly assemblies.

Lunch

The children eat lunch in their classrooms, supervised by assigned lunch parents. All lunch parents must sign in at the office and wear a Lunch Parent badge.

Students are not permitted to bring drinks in glass bottles. Out of consideration for other students, we ask that parents not provide their children with hot food, i.e. hamburgers, pizza, etc. Children should bring their lunch with them in the morning.

Children are not permitted to run or play ball during recess. They may not walk or run on the grass or the nearby steps.

Personal Property

While respect for property is taught and encouraged, Resurrection Ascension School is not responsible for valuables lost or damaged during the school day. Therefore, the following items must not be brought to school without permission from a teacher: toys, trading cards, iPods, or hand-held games.

Students are permitted to have cell phones in school. In grades 6-8 cell phones will be collected at the beginning of the day and kept in a locked box in the school office. While at the After School Program students must keep their phones off and in their schoolbag. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call the school office and the message will be delivered. If a student uses a phone during the school day, the phone will be confiscated and must be picked up at the office by a parent.

Report Cards

Report cards are distributed three times a year in December, March and June. Evaluation is based on class work, homework, independent study, projects, class participation and tests.

Retention and Summer School

Failure of two or more major subjects may result in retention. The principal, after discussion with the parents and teachers, reserves the right to make the final decision regarding retention.

Students who fail a major subject are expected to attend summer classes or receive private tutoring. At least thirty hours of tutoring will be required for every subject failed. A progress report signed by the instructor must be submitted to school during the last week of August.

Safety Policy

The safety of our students and staff is a primary concern for our school. To this end, we have implemented a variety of measures to insure safety.

• A Crisis Plan has been developed according to Diocesan guidelines.


• Fire Drills take place twelve times a year according to New York City law.


• Visitors to our school, including parents, must sign in with the secretary, and will be asked to wear a Visitor's badge.


• Throughout the school day entrances are monitored by security cameras.


• Students who are leaving school before the end of the day must present a written note to the teacher, and be signed out at the office by a parent or guardian. If another adult is picking up a child, permission by the parent must be submitted in writing. No child will be allowed to walk home without an adult.


• No students are allowed to be in the building unsupervised.


• Our school safety patrol monitors the students at arrival and during recess.


• Parents cannot visit the students in the schoolyard during recess without first signing in at the office.

Spiritual Development

It is part of the mission of the Catholic School to develop the faith life of our students. To this end, all Catholic baptized students will receive the following sacraments:

• Eucharist and Reconciliation: 2nd Grade


• Confirmation: 7th Grade

We encourage and expect all Catholic students to fully participate in the Liturgy on Saturday or Sunday and Holydays of Obligation. As the primary educators of their children, parents are encouraged to accompany their children to Mass on these days.

Ms. Joyce Mennona coordinates all of the Sacramental programs of the parish. She may be reached at the Office of Faith Formation at 718-533-7898.

Testing

Periodic testing at the conclusion of a chapter or unit takes place on all grade levels from 1 through 8. Each student in grades 1 through 6 will receive a test folder containing the week's tests. This test folder will be sent home every Wednesday. The folder should be signed by the parent and returned to school the following day.

Terra Nova standardized testing is administered to every student from grades 3-8 in the last week of September. Results are distributed to parents in December with the report card.

New York State testing is administered yearly as follows:

Grade 4:
English Language Arts - May
Math - May
Science - May/June

Grade 6:
English Language Arts - May
Math - May

Grade 8:
English Language Arts- May
Math - May
Science - May/June

Any student who scores a Level 1 or 2 must be remediated the following year. Any student who scores a Level 1 must be retested at the end of the following year.

Textbooks and Workbooks

All hard-covered texts must be covered. Book covers should include identifying information in case of loss. All student textbooks are the property of the school and should be treated with care. Books that are lost or damaged are the responsibility of the student. Students that lose or damage their textbooks will be charged the full amount to replace them. Extra textbooks will not be given to students.

Transportation

Metro Cards are available for any student who meets age and distance requirements. Please contact the school office for more information. The school cannot recommend nor be responsible for any private bus companies utilized by parents to bring their children to and from school.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition schedule and tuition policy for the school is distributed to parents in the spring. Any parent with a question or concern about tuition is asked to contact Mrs. Annette O�Connell in the rectory at 718-396-0082.

An activity fee is collected at the beginning of the school year and covers the cost of the following:

• Textbooks or workbooks not covered by state or city monies


• Terra Nova testing


• Computer and Internet fees


• Insurance


• Paper and Copying costs


• Weekly magazines


• Art supplies


• Propagation of the Faith/Holy Childhood dues

Important Phone Numbers:

School Office: 718-426-4963
School Nurse: 718-426-2347
School Counselor (Thursdays only): 718-429-3170
School Fax Number: 718-426-0940
After School Program: 718-478-4344
Rectory: 718-424-5212
Mrs. O�Connell (tuition secretary): 718-396-0082
Joyce Mennona, Director of Religious Education: 718-533-7898

School Website: www.raschool.org
School Email Address: RASchool443@aol.com