Textbooks are purchased by the school and rented by the parents through the payment of a book fee. Every effort is made to protect the books and we insist upon the following regulations:
Each child will receive an assignment book as part of the book fee. If it is lost, the child will pay for the subsequent ones.
All extracurricular activities (outside of school hours) must be approved by the principal. These activities must have an evident educational purpose. The purpose of the activity and the requirements for participation must be clearly defined. A member of the faculty or a qualified/responsible adult should act as moderator of the activity and should be present at all times during the activity. Parent’s/guardian’s permission must be obtained for a student to participate in extracurricular activities.
Our Lady of the Pillar Extracurricular activities include
Bellarmine Speech League |
Art contests |
Field trips will be of cultural and/or educational value. Ten dollars of the book fee will go toward field trips. Parents will be asked to cover costs beyond the $10.00.
According to Archdiocesan Policy a regularly licensed public carrier will normally transport the students going on the field trips. If transportation is provided by volunteer drivers proof of insurance and Child Safe Environment documentation must be on file. All drivers must be over the age of 21 years
The children have homework. This includes written assignments, study, reading and working on a project over a span of several days.
Each evening parents should check and sign the Assignment Notebook to verify that the homework has been completed as assigned.
Our Lady of the Pillar library is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is an open library where children check out books on their own. Most books are checked out for a two-week period. Books designated as "one day checkout only" are checked out overnight.
Reference books must be used in the library.
A fine of $.05 per school day will be assessed for over-due books. Fines will be used to help defray the repair of books. Lost books must be paid for. Depreciation will be considered in assessing the value of the book.
Children who abuse library privileges by misbehavior in the library, by vandalism, by too many over-due or lost books will be denied use of the library.
Reading
In the primary and intermediate grades, our program is a development skill-building program which is levelized. We use the MacMillan Series as our Basic Texts. Levels 1-6 to Kdg; Levels 7-10 to grade 1; Levels 11-14 to grade 2; Levels 15-18 to grade 3; Levels 19-24 to grade 4; Levels 25-30 to grade 5; Levels 31-36 to grade 6. Grades 7 & 8 use a Literature series.
Group Instruction
In their learning experience children progress at different speeds. The faculty of Our Lady of the Pillar School recognizes that provision for the personal needs of the students must be built into the teaching and learning processes. Our teachers make every effort to gear our curriculum and methods to the learning pace of the individual child. In this way the child benefits from the challenges presented to him or her through individual study and at the same time develops healthy relationships and experiences which come through group instruction.
Students from K through 8 have two music classes and one art class per week under the supervision of qualified teachers.
Weekly, each grade participates in designated periods of physical education. These classes are assigned for particular days of the week; the schedule will be given to the children on the first day of the school year. No student is permitted on the gym floor without tennis shoes or gym shoes.
The gym uniform is as follows:
All gym wear should be taken home every Friday for laundering.
| October | January | March | June |
Grades 5 through 8 receive progress reports 4 times a year, midway through each quarter.
Students in Grades K-4 receive mid-quarter progress reports as needed as determined by the teachers.
The purpose of these reports is to let the parents know the progress of the students.
To be on the Principal’s List, students must earn A's and/or B's in all major subjects. Major subjects are those subjects which meet five days a week.
A student must earn a conduct grade of A or B in all classes for Principal’s List placement.A serious attempt is made at all times to evaluate the progress of students. The following grading system has been devised for that purpose.
A+
97-100
B+
89-92
C+
81-84
D+
74-76
F
0-69
A
94-96
B
86-88
C
78-80
D
71-73
A-
93
B-
85
C-
77
D-
70
If a major adjustment to curriculum, assessment, and/or instruction is necessary to meet a student’s diagnosed special needs, a special notation will be placed on the student’s report card and permanent records. Parents will be informed of the notation.
In order to begin the "new school year" in an organized manner, we ask that the children come to school on the first day with their school supplies.
Supply lists for individual grades can be found on the school website: www.olpillar.com or in the school office.
Spanish is taught in grades K - 8.
Archdiocesan Policy 4601.2: Access to Student Records by Parents
Parents/guardians have the right to inspect and review the official active file of their children. The local school officials should make reasonable rules and regulations designed to implement this policy.
Our Lady of the Pillar Procedures:
Parents who wish to review their child’s official active file should call the Principal to determine a mutually convenient time.
Archdiocesan Policy 4601.3: Access to Student Records by Others
The right of school personnel to access the records of students is limited to those who have a legitimate purpose for the information the record contains. In addition, the person must also have a professional responsibility for a specific individual student or a clearly identified group of students. This includes teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, and special education personnel.
Our Lady of the Pillar Procedures:
Except for school employees who work directly with a student, expressed written consent of the parent/guardian must be obtained before a student’s records can be accessed by an individual.
Archdiocesan Policy 4601.4: Transfer of Records
There should be no release of student records to other schools, institutions, agencies, or individuals without the prior written consent of a parent/guardian, or the former student if age eighteen years or older. Records are not released to parents or students, but are transferred directly from the school to the institution designated to receive them.
Archdiocesan Policy 4601.5: Guidance Information
School guidance counselors have the need to obtain information and record anecdotal notes about individual students with whom they meet, and to maintain that information during the period of the student’s enrollment at the school. These should be kept in a professional manner, and in a format which allows the information and the date obtained to be readily identified and understood.
Archdiocesan Policy 4601.6: Release of Student Discipline Information
Student discipline information is not part of a student’s cumulative or permanent record file, and as such, is not included when parents authorize information to be provided to another school or agency. Making this information available to any person or institution must only be done with the specific written consent of the student’s parent or guardian and the student, if 18 years old or older and still enrolled in the school. This applies to providing both written and/or oral information.
The complete testing program for an elementary school child in the Archdiocese of St. Louis consists of the following:
Incoming first graders will be given the Metropolitan Reading Readiness Test.
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