Frequently Asked Questions
What time does school start?
7:30 a.m. - Earliest arrival time
7:50 a.m. - Tardy bell rings. Morning assembly in parish hall or television broadcast begins in homeroom. (It is important for every student to be on time for prayer and announcements.). Students who arrive after 7:50 a.m. will be marked tardy.
12:30 p.m. - Half-day Dismissal
3:00 p.m. - Dismissal Bell
7:30 a.m. - Earliest arrival time
7:50 a.m. - Tardy bell rings. Morning assembly in parish hall or television broadcast begins in homeroom. (It is important for every student to be on time for prayer and announcements.). Students who arrive after 7:50 a.m. will be marked tardy.
12:30 p.m. - Half-day Dismissal
3:00 p.m. - Dismissal Bell
What do I do if my child is sick or is going to be absent?
Please call the main school number before 8:00 a.m., and when prompted, leave a voice mail message in the attendance mailbox. If your child has an illness, please indicate that in your message. It is important to keep track of communicable illness such as flu and strep.
Please call the main school number before 8:00 a.m., and when prompted, leave a voice mail message in the attendance mailbox. If your child has an illness, please indicate that in your message. It is important to keep track of communicable illness such as flu and strep.
What is Sneak-a-Peek Day?
Sneak-a-Peek Day is the Friday before school starts, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. This is an informal open house opportunity for parents and students to visit the classrooms, meet the teachers, make purchases at the Used Uniform Sale and purchase required school supplies. It is not required, but it is strongly recommended that families attend. It is also recommended that students bring their supplies with them to drop off in the classrooms.
Sneak-a-Peek Day is the Friday before school starts, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. This is an informal open house opportunity for parents and students to visit the classrooms, meet the teachers, make purchases at the Used Uniform Sale and purchase required school supplies. It is not required, but it is strongly recommended that families attend. It is also recommended that students bring their supplies with them to drop off in the classrooms.
How do I volunteer? How do I log my service hours?
Volunteers are vital to the success of our school and its programs. The Saint Peter’s School Service Program serves several important functions: building community; strengthening parental involvement and commitment to the school; reducing auxiliary expenses so that funds can be targeted for programs and materials which directly benefit students. As part of the School Service Program, each family is required to perform a minimum of 15 hours of service each year. Many families contribute significantly more. For a list of the various volunteer opportunities, please see the school website.
Please note that younger siblings cannot accompany parents who volunteer during the school day for school programs or in the classrooms. If you have any questions, please call the Home & School Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Davidson, 301-260-9038, ladcsd@aol.com.
School service and volunteer hours are self-reported in a database linked to the school website. Each adult who volunteers for a school service activity must register for that activity and record their hours electronically. All service hours will be reviewed for accuracy by the Home & School Volunteer Coordinators. When registering your hours, please keep in mind the following guidelines:
Volunteers are vital to the success of our school and its programs. The Saint Peter’s School Service Program serves several important functions: building community; strengthening parental involvement and commitment to the school; reducing auxiliary expenses so that funds can be targeted for programs and materials which directly benefit students. As part of the School Service Program, each family is required to perform a minimum of 15 hours of service each year. Many families contribute significantly more. For a list of the various volunteer opportunities, please see the school website.
Please note that younger siblings cannot accompany parents who volunteer during the school day for school programs or in the classrooms. If you have any questions, please call the Home & School Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Davidson, 301-260-9038, ladcsd@aol.com.
School service and volunteer hours are self-reported in a database linked to the school website. Each adult who volunteers for a school service activity must register for that activity and record their hours electronically. All service hours will be reviewed for accuracy by the Home & School Volunteer Coordinators. When registering your hours, please keep in mind the following guidelines:
- List the activity and number of hours worked not the time span. (Examples: Set up for Bingo – 2 hours; baking brownies for Faculty Luncheon – ½ hour; working during Clean-up Day – 4 hours).
- Donations (such as baked goods, paper products, etc.) do not count towards service hours. If necessary, submit receipts for reimbursement.
- Some activities such (i.e. Field Day, Drama) have a limit of 5 hours that can count toward fulfilling the School Service Requirement.
- Your requirement for involvement in parish functions (i.e., Athletics, Bazaar, Lector, Scouts) does not suffice to fulfill the required service hours for the Day School.
VOLUNTEERS AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Many of our school service opportunities involve adult volunteers working with/around children. Anyone over the age of 18 who has contact with children is required to be in full compliance with the Archdiocese of Washington Child Protection Policy. Please call the school office if you have any questions.
Many of our school service opportunities involve adult volunteers working with/around children. Anyone over the age of 18 who has contact with children is required to be in full compliance with the Archdiocese of Washington Child Protection Policy. Please call the school office if you have any questions.
When can I visit the school?
- Please join us for our school Masses (see dates on calendar). During Mass and other religious events (May Procession, Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross, etc.) students will stay with their classes. However, we welcome parents' attendance.
- Open house is held every Tuesday, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., from the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving to through the end of March. Parents of current and prospective students are welcome to visit.
- Some volunteer positions are available in the Media Center (library and computer lab). We also need volunteers for our daily lunch distribution and recess supervision program.
- All volunteers and visitors to the school must report to the school office to sign in and receive a visitor pass. We are required to keep a record of all visitors in the building for the safety of our students and, in the event of an emergency, for the safety of our visitors. Neither students nor visitors are permitted to enter the building through any side or back door. Students have been instructed, for safety reasons, not to open doors for anyone. Anyone without a visitor pass will be asked to report to the office.
Does the school serve lunch & milk? How do I order?
- The Milk/Hot Lunch Program begins on Tuesday, September 6. PLEASE NOTE: August 30- September 1 are full days. STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN LUNCH AND DRINK ON THESE DAYS. Saint Peter's partners with several local restaurants to provide optional lunch items. Lunch orders must be submitted through the website, www.orderlunches.com, by 8:00 a.m. The full menu can be viewed on the website Milk is also available. It must be ordered for the year by Friday, September 1. All lunch and milk orders are paid for with a credit card on the lunch order site.
How can I communicate with the teachers and the school administration?
Saint Peter’s School uses a variety of means in order to facilitate communication between home and school. Some of the most frequently used are listed below. For details and additional information, please review the School Handbook which will be sent home during the first week of school.
Saint Peter’s School uses a variety of means in order to facilitate communication between home and school. Some of the most frequently used are listed below. For details and additional information, please review the School Handbook which will be sent home during the first week of school.
- Parent/Teacher Conferences –Once a year, when 1st Quarter Report Cards are distributed, parents are required to attend a 10 minute conference with their child’s homeroom teacher in order to receive the report card and talk briefly about their child’s academic progress. Parents schedule their own appointments through on online scheduling portal. Additional parent/ teacher conferences are encouraged and may be scheduled during the year, as necessary. Please send a note or call the teacher to make an appointment.
- Home & School Association – The Home and School Association is the parent service organization created to encourage communication and cooperation between parents, administrators and teachers by building community and facilitating and tracking volunteer service to the school. All families are encouraged to attend the Home and School Association meetings and to participate in the activities it sponsors.
- Phone System – Our phone system permits parents to leave messages for teachers in telephone voice mail – prompts within the phone system will guide you to a teacher’s voice mail box. Please allow up to 48 hours for a teacher to return a phone call. If a teacher calls during the school day, please be aware that their time will be limited and the conversation may need to be continued at another mutually agreeable time. If you are trying to reach a teacher at the end of the day, please note that there is no guarantee that a voicemail left for a teacher will be received in time for dismissal.
- E-mail – Every member of the school faculty and staff has a unique, private e-mail address. These addresses are available on the school website and are also published in the School Directory following the pattern: firstname.lastname@stpetersolney.org. Each teacher will announce at Back– to–School Night their preferred means of communication (phone or e-mail).
- School Handbook – the handbook is part of the school calendar. The handbook is revised annually and contains detailed information about our policies and procedures. The handbook and calendar will be distributed at Sneak-a-Peek/PK & K Open House (one per family). Each family is required to sign the handbook acknowledgement page at the front of the calendar.
- School Directory – Every family’s name, address, home phone, and family e-mail are listed, by permission only, in the Directory. This information is to be used for school/social contacts only. It may not be used to solicit donations or for business or other mass mailings.
- School Website - Primary means of communication between home and school. Be sure you have activated your parent portal account in order to access private information and to be able to receive emails from the school.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW STUDENTS
If your child is NEW to the school, the Immunization Record and Health Inventory must be completed and returned to the Health Room before the first day of school, August 29, 2016. Students cannot be admitted to class if this information is not complete and on file. If you have any questions, please call Teri Towson, Health Room Technician, ext. 309.
If your child is NEW to the school, the Immunization Record and Health Inventory must be completed and returned to the Health Room before the first day of school, August 29, 2016. Students cannot be admitted to class if this information is not complete and on file. If you have any questions, please call Teri Towson, Health Room Technician, ext. 309.
NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 7TH GRADE AND KINDERGARTEN
Recent changes to the school immunization requirements affect students entering Kindergarten and 7th grade effective at the beginning of the 2014-2015 School Year. The new requirements are contained in the Code of Maryland regulations (COMAR) 10.06.04.03. The changes to COMAR 10.06.04 include the following new immunization requirements:
Recent changes to the school immunization requirements affect students entering Kindergarten and 7th grade effective at the beginning of the 2014-2015 School Year. The new requirements are contained in the Code of Maryland regulations (COMAR) 10.06.04.03. The changes to COMAR 10.06.04 include the following new immunization requirements:
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Grade Level
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New Immunization Requirement
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Kindergarten
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Varicella - Two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine
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7th Grade Students
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Tdap - A single dose of Tdap vaccine
Meningococcal - A single dose of Meningococcal vaccine |
We will need an updated copy of the immunization record for those students affected before the start the 2015-2016 school year. You can print a copy of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Immunization Certificate on the school website/Contents. Please call Mrs. Towson in the health room if you have any questions.
The earliest arrival time is 7:30 a.m. Students dropped off earlier than 7:30 a.m. will be automatically enrolled in the Before School-Care Program at a cost of $5 per child per day. Safety is our primary concern – please do not leave children unsupervised at school. Except for students going to Before Care, all students enter the school building through the lobby and go directly to the classroom. After 7:50 a.m., students obtain a tardy slip from the office before going to the classroom.
The school day ends at 3:00 p.m. Students must be picked up by the time dismissal ends unless they are enrolled in an after-school activity or under a teacher’s direct supervision (i.e. making up a test). Students who are still in the parking lot when the second hand bell rings will be registered with Aftercare (Treacy East). A late pick–up fee of $10 per child applies for students picked up by 3:15 p.m. After 3:15 p.m. parents will be charged the regular aftercare drop-in rate for each child. In the event an emergency, please notify the school office before 2:45 p.m. There is no guarantee that a voicemail left for a teacher will be received in time for dismissal.
ARCHDIOCESAN BAND PROGRAM
At the beginning of the school year our Band Director will demonstrate to the students in grades 4-8 the different instruments represented in our band program. This demonstration will take place during the school day. Information about the band program will come home at that time.
At the beginning of the school year our Band Director will demonstrate to the students in grades 4-8 the different instruments represented in our band program. This demonstration will take place during the school day. Information about the band program will come home at that time.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
The School Supply List is available on our school website. Assignment books (required for grades 2-8) and canvas logo pouches will be available for sale on Sneak-a-Peek day. After Sneak-a-Peek day, assignment books and pouches can be purchased by sending a check to your child’s teacher. Assignments books - $6; Logo pouches - $7.
The School Supply List is available on our school website. Assignment books (required for grades 2-8) and canvas logo pouches will be available for sale on Sneak-a-Peek day. After Sneak-a-Peek day, assignment books and pouches can be purchased by sending a check to your child’s teacher. Assignments books - $6; Logo pouches - $7.
SAFETY PARTOLS
Montgomery County Police Officers work with our Safety Patrols to provide maximum safety for our children as they come and go from school. Only seventh grade students are eligible for the patrol program. They attend meetings and assume leadership responsibilities for the safety of the school children. All students are expected to obey the patrols. Any misconduct on the part of students is reported to the patrol moderator or principal. Patrols are expected to be an example to the students and may be suspended from patrol duty for misconduct.
Montgomery County Police Officers work with our Safety Patrols to provide maximum safety for our children as they come and go from school. Only seventh grade students are eligible for the patrol program. They attend meetings and assume leadership responsibilities for the safety of the school children. All students are expected to obey the patrols. Any misconduct on the part of students is reported to the patrol moderator or principal. Patrols are expected to be an example to the students and may be suspended from patrol duty for misconduct.