Policies

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular, punctual attendance is the key to success. Irregular attendance plays havoc with the student’s academic achievement. Every effort should be made by parents to see that the child is in school each day. Parents of absent children must call the school office by 8:30 A.M. each day that the child is absent and follow-up –when the child returns– with a written note to the homeroom teacher explaining the absence.

Students who accrue more than fifteen (15) unexcused absences will be considered for retention in the current grade. Absences are excused only in the event of serious family emergencies or on receipt of a physician’s note. Vacations are not considered excused absences. All vacations should coincide with the school calendar. Appointments with doctors should be made after school hours or during vacations. Early dismissals should not be requested except in the case of emergency. Late arrival or early dismissal is considered an absence if the child is not present for at least half the school day. Report cards will indicate the total number of all tardies and absences whether or not they are excused


TARDY POLICY

Tardy arrivals distract classes and form poor habits. Students are tardy if they are not in their classrooms, ready to begin the day by 8:00 A.M. On those rare occasions when a tardy arrival is unavoidable, parents are required to call ahead or send a note explaining the reason for the late arrival. Parents must also come into the building to sign the child into school. Any three unexcused tardies per child per quarter will result in an after school session.


MAKE-UP WORK POLICY

It is the student’s responsibility to contact teachers to arrange to make up assignments, quizzes and tests. All assignments, quizzes and tests must be made up within one week of the student’s return to school, the general rule being one day for each day absent. Special arrangements can be made in the event of prolonged illness.
Absence from the classroom deprives students of direct instruction as well as interaction with teachers and classmates. Material which has not yet been taught cannot be “reinforced” by written assignments; therefore it is not always possible to give out assignments in anticipation of a planned absence. Such advance assignments are made at the discretion of the individual teacher. Homework for absent students will be ready for pick-up at the end of the day, provided it has been requested by 8:30 in the morning. When possible, homework will be given to a sibling of the absent student.


BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL POLICY

Students wait outside until 7:50 A.M. when the bell rings and they enter the building. Supervision is not provided for early arrivals unless they are enrolled in the Before School Program, which opens at 7:00 A.M. Students whose rides have not arrived by 2:35 P.M. are required to report to the After School Program. Parents will be billed at the end of the month at $6.00 per hour.


INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

Our Lady of the Angels School follows “Worcester Public and Parochial” announcements for school cancellations and delays.

  • When school is cancelled, we will follow the remote learning procedure, unless otherwise notified by the schoolwide email/all-call/text system.
  • When there is a delayed opening of two hours, morning sessions of pre-school do not meet. When there is a two hour delay, full-day preschool meets with a two-hour delayed opening.
  • Notification of early dismissals due to weather will be made using the school wide email/all-call/text system. The After-School Program does not meet when school has been dismissed early due to weather conditions.

Visitors Policy

All parents and visitors must sign in and out at the school office. Visitor badges must be worn. No parent or visitor to the school may go to classrooms or other areas of the school without permission from the office. Only the administrator may give permission for photographers or reporters to visit our school. Photography and videography require the administration’s permission.


ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL POLICY

Arrival:  All preschool students must be walked in to the preschool building by an adult.  All other students being dropped off by car in the morning are expected to walk up the driveway to the school,  Vehicles are not permitted t drive up either driveway after 7:30 a.m.  This policy was formulated as a measure to ensure our children‘s safety.

Early Dismissal: Parents or other authorized persons calling for children who are being dismissed early must report to the office and wait in the foyer for the child. No one may go directly to classrooms without permission from the office. In the event that a student becomes ill during school hours, parents will be notified by telephone to arrange for the child’s dismissal. Parents requesting an early dismissal are required to send a note to the teacher in the morning to advise the school of the arrangement, and then come personally to the office at the time of dismissal to sign the child out. Parents are required to send a note informing the school of any changes in the child’s transportation plan as described on the “Signature Page.” Students may not leave the building with anyone not pre-authorized in writing by their parents. Please try to foresee occasions such as medical emergencies and snow days when another adult may need to bring your child home and list by name on the “Signature Page” anyone you authorize in that category.

Regular Dismissal:  Each OLA family receives two (2) carline visor clips preprinted with the first four letters of the students last name and their grade(s).  Each student receives one (1) backpack tag with information that matches the family car tag.  It is the families responsibility to affix the visor tags and backpack tags immediately upon receipt of these items.  Lost tags can be replaced for a fee.  Parents picking up their children in the afternoon will proceed slowly behind the school in three lines where they will remain in their cars.  Students will be called in the order that the cars are lined up and dismissed to the car with the matching visor tag.  Loaded cars will exit the lot via the Hollsand Rd. exit only when instructed to do so.

Students will never be dismissed to a car without a matching visor tag.  Ride arrangements who come without a tag will be instructed to park at the bottom of the lot, ring the front door bell, and show their ID at the office.  The ID must match with an authorized name on the student dismissal form.


Child Custody Policy

Divorced or separated parents must file a court-certified copy of the custody section of the divorce or separation decree with the administration of the school. The school will not be held responsible for failing to honor arrangements that have not been made known to the school administration.


Drugs, Alcohol, and Weapons Policy

Any student on school grounds with alcohol, drugs, or weapons of any kind will be suspended immediately and may be expelled at the discretion of the administration of the school.