Safety, orderliness, clear expectations, communication, and Christian care are priorities in the policies in place at St. Paul’s First Lutheran School. We encourage parents to read our complete Parent/Student School Handbook or contact the school office for a hard copy.
Parent Service Program
We are blessed to have so many volunteer opportunities at St. Paul’s First Lutheran! While family service hours are required (20 hours per family), we know that many of our families donate much more than this requirement. Because of this dedication and support our school is able to provide students with fun and enriching experiences that build and strengthen our community. Please review Parent Service Program Information or obtain a hard copy from the school office.
Frequently Asked School Policies and Procedures:
The school office must be notified by telephone no later than 10:00 a.m., if your child will be absent from school. All absences must be explained in writing by the parents/guardians. This excuse must be brought to school the day the child returns from the absence. A note from a physician must explain extended absences.
Excused absences are those that result from illness, medical, dental or eye appointment, television or motion picture work (with proper permit), bereavement and those approved prior to the absence by the principal. The principal will have final authority on all excused absences.
It is the student’s responsibility to see that all tests and assignments are completed on time. All schoolwork for unexcused absences must be completed and handed in upon return to class. Failure to do so will result in a failing grade for those assignments.
Students who are unable to participate in Physical Education because of illness or injury are expected to bring a written note of excuse from a parent/guardian or physician stating the reason and length of exclusion.
Once a student has entered the school grounds, he may not leave again without written permission from home. Students may not leave the campus for lunch unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Skateboards and roller skates/roller blades are not permitted on school grounds. Bicycles may not be ridden on school grounds. There is a secure bicycle rack for students who ride a bike to school.
The crosswalk must be used by students at all times when crossing the street. Parents/guardians, please assist us in the enforcement of this rule.
There is potential for traffic problems in front of the school during afternoon hours. The playground gate on Bakman Street will be open from 3:15 to 3:35 p.m. for school pick up to help reduce congestion.
The law prohibits parking and leaving your vehicle directly in front of the school office. This area is for loading and unloading of passengers only. It is illegal and dangerous to double park when picking up or dropping off children. DO NOT DOUBLE PARK. Please help us prevent possible injury to your child and others. School parents/guardians should not use Preschool parking spaces.
St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church and School is a smoke free campus. Smoking is prohibited at all times in all places in and around the campus.
Gum chewing is prohibited on campus at all times and at all school activities.
Homework is essential in the educational process of our students. It will be given at all grade levels. It is a way of reinforcing the learning that the student is doing in class, and is a method of teaching them self-discipline and proper study habits. The amount of time it takes for an individual child to do homework depends on that child’s ability, study habits and attitude, but the following can be used as a guideline:
Kindergarten: 5-10 minutes 4th grade: 40-60 minutes 1st grade: 15 minutes 5th grade: 50-60 minutes 2nd grade: 20-30 minutes 6th grade: 1-1 ½ hours 3rd grade: 30-60 minutes 7th & 8th grades: 1- 1 ½ hours
Mornings (7:45 – 8:05 a.m.): During inclement weather in the morning before school begins, children will not be permitted to play on the playground. Children will go directly into their own classrooms with their teachers. All classrooms will be open at 7:45 a.m. for children to enter. On rainy days children are permitted to wear a raincoat in addition to their school uniform or school outerwear.
Afternoons (3:15 – 3:30 p.m.): During inclement weather in the afternoon the students will remain in their classroom. Parents will meet and pick up their child at the classroom door. The playground area will be opened for parent parking, so the parents can walk to classrooms to retrieve their children. If parents are parked in their cars at the front gate pick up zone, teachers will be notified to send the child to the front to be escorted to the waiting car.
Extended School Program (3:30 p.m.): Grades 2-8 will be escorted to Wagner Hall for parent pick up. K4, kindergarten, and grade 1 will be escorted to the kindergarten classroom (or other designated classroom). All children will be signed into after care. Upon arrival, all parents will enter into Wagner Hall to sign the children out of after-care and retrieve their child from the respective classrooms.
(After 4:30 p.m.): All children will be moved into Wagner Hall, please go directly to Wagner Hall.
When a child arrives late to school in the morning, parents/guardians are asked to accompany the child to the office and sign him/her in. Three or more unexcused tardies to school may be considered truancy. Therefore, tardiness is considered a serious problem that must be remedied. Tardy is defined as not being present in the classroom when the 8:15 a.m. school bell has rung. The policy for repeated tardiness is as follows:
- After the third unexcused tardy and subsequent tardy instances in a month, the principal will send a note home to the parents/guardians reminding them of the problem. The child will be required to serve an after-school detention.
- Parents/guardians will be charged $5 for a half hour and $10 for one hour of detention.
- Persistent tardiness will be reported to the St. Paul’s Board of Education to review enrollment status of the child.
Students arriving at school after 10:00 a.m. are counted one half day absent. Any student who obtains more than two unexcused tardies during the school year is not eligible to receive a Perfect Attendance award.
All uniform items must be from Dennis Uniform or St. Paul’s Shark Shack. Exceptions to this are the following: Equivalent solid navy polo shirts, shorts and pants may be purchased from other sources. No cargo shorts or pants are permitted. Polo shirts in white, gray or navy that duplicate those available from Dennis Uniform may also be purchased elsewhere.
Solid blue skirts and skorts may be purchased at Dennis Uniform, the St. Paul’s Shark Shack or department stores. Name brands should not be visible and acceptability of these items of clothing will be at the discretion of the faculty Dress Code Committee. Plaid skirts or skorts may only be purchased from Dennis Uniform or the St. Paul’s Shark Shack.
Shirts: Polo shirts with or without the SP logo are permitted for the regular school day. All shirts must be correctly sized and tucked into pants, shorts or skirts at all times.
Students may wear St. Paul’s activity or boosterwear t-shirts on Fridays.
Pants/Shorts/Skirts/Skorts: Pants/Shorts/Skirts/Skorts must be appropriately sized (no baggy or oversized items), and must be fitted at the waist. Only plaid skirts, skorts, and jumpers from Dennis Uniform are permitted. Solid navy blue skirts, skorts, and jumpers from department stores are permitted. These items must be no shorter than six inches above the knees. Shorts must be above the knee. Shorts may be worn under skirts as long as they are not visible below the skirt hem.
Outerwear: Only jackets, coats and sweaters from Dennis Uniform or St. Paul’s Shark Shack may be worn. Sweatshirts must be from Dennis Uniform or have the St. Paul’s logo. Raincoats from outside sources are acceptable during rainy weather.
Shoes & Socks: Shoes must be in good condition, properly tied, and be the correct size. Sandals are not permitted. Boots are acceptable as long as heels and soles are of a moderate and safe height. Socks are required at all times. Socks may be of any color but must not go above the knee. Girls may wear tights and leggings in a solid color with the discretion of the Dress Code Committee.
