Notes from the Deans Office!

 

NEW-PARENT-TO-RITTER ORIENTATION

                 August 15, 2011                                                       

Ms. Sandra Morton                314-446-5519

Dean of Student

smorton@cardinalritterprep.org

 

Important Rules to Remember

Parent/guardians are the primary educators!  CRCP is proud that you have selected us to help with that education.  To accomplish this, the following things are extremely important:  communication, safety, and cooperation.

1. Students & Parents should enter Ritter either through the Front Entry or the Northeast Entry by the gym (off the upper Enright parking lot.)  These doors will be open before school at 6:30 AM.  They will be locked at 8:15 AM.  After 8:15 AM everyone should enter through the Front Entry only.  [Security camera & bell/buzzer system.]
2. Students are to remain on campus once they have arrived and should not leave until dismissal.  [We hope every parent knows who their son/daughter is traveling with to and from Ritter.  Early dismissals require a note or phone call by 9:00 AM the day of the Early Dismissal!]
3. Attendance is very important for success at Ritter. 
1. It is very important to be on time for school.  We encourage everyone to arrive at least 15 minutes before Homeroom begins at 8:15 AM.  Students need to go to their lockers and restrooms, purchase items from the Business Office, and be in their Homeroom classroom by 8:15 AM.
2. Dismissal will usually be at 2:37 PM following Block Four.  [Monday's will always be an Early Dismissal Schedule with dismissal at 1:30 PM.]
3. After school students need to be picked up as soon as possible.  If involved in a co-curricular, in tutoring, in supervised athletes study hall, or other activity, they should be with a moderator.  If there is a need to wait longer for a ride, there is a form that must be completed indicating the reason and the amount of time before the ride arrives.
4. At dismissal, students should exit the building through the Front Entry or the Northeast Entry by the gym.  Parents are encouraged to pick students up from the front of the building if immediately after dismissal.  Students are not to wait in the foyer or the front of the building for rides.  About 20 minutes after dismissal (by 3:00 PM) any student waiting outside for a ride should wait by the Northeast Entry by the gym doors or on the property behind the school.  Parents are encouraged to pick students up from the parking lot if it is more than 20 minutes following dismissal.

 

 

1. Please keep the school informed of all circumstances that vary from the usual:
1. Absence from school: please call Ms. McWell (446-5501) Ms. Morton (446-5519) before 9:00 AM.
2. Early Dismissal:  please send a note or phone before 9:00 AM or ASAP.
3. Excused tardiness or special needs/arrangements:  ASAP.
4. Any change in phone numbers, addresses, household circumstances, etc.  ESPECIALLY EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS.

a)                                      If there is any emergency, we need to be able to contact someone with some authority.

b)                                     When a student is too ill to attend classes, someone will need to be able to pick them up as quickly as possible.  [There is no sick room.]

c)                                      In instances of seriously inappropriate behavior, we will need to contact the parent or guardian.

d)                                      Necessary or important messages:  call the Main Office or the Dean.  Students may not use their cell phone during the school day (from first to last bell).  If there is an emergency, the Dean will deliver the message immediately.  Parents are asked not to call their son or daughter during the school day.  When cell phones are used during the wrong time of day, they are confiscated and the parent/guardian must personally come retrieve the phone from the Dean.

1. Parents and guardians are welcome to visit at any time.  Please remember:  all visitors must report to the Main Office and obtain a badge to be worn while on campus (if they are going to move around the building).
2. The Elevator is OFF LIMITS to students at all times unless permission is given. If an injury should occur and a student needs to use the Elevator, please simply notify the Main Office or the Dean when necessary.
3. And much, much, much more . . .
1. Read the Parent/Student Handbook.
2. Check daily or periodically your son's or daughter's Agenda.
3. Know that "updated calendars" are available the beginning of each month.  Note:  rotation days will not change but many activities and some schedules change.  (Available in the Main Office and at monthly Parent Association Meetings.)
4. Check for your student's academic performance via Skyward.
5. Call us!  Communicate, communicate, communicate.

 

 

 

 

BEHAVIOR SUBJECT TO MONETARY FINES

 

Certain behaviors are not subject to written punishments or detentions, but to money fines.  These behaviors include dress code violations ($5.00), gum chewing $10, food or drink outside The Commons $10; Saturday Detention $10, smoking cigarettes $25, and parking in handicap or visitor spots $25.  Should a student receive three (3) of these offenses, he/she will be placed on a behavioral contract.

 

Electronic Devices                    

Students may not use their cell phones and electronic devices during the academic day (from 8:15 until dismissal).  [Electronic devices include but are not limited to:  headphones, cameras, camcorders, ipods, mp3 players, PSP's, blackberries, pagers, cell phones, laptops, etc.]  Students may use these devices before and after school.

INTERNET, FACEBOOK, ETC. AWAY FROM SCHOOL!! 

Cardinal Ritter has always had the policy that students can be held accountable for off campus activities that reflect negatively on the school or students.  Modern technology has also made it necessary for Ritter to carry this policy to the Internet outside of classes and away from school.  Students now have access to online social network such as "FACEBOOK," "myspace," etc.  Students using these services have used Cardinal Ritter's name and the names of other students without permission, and have included photographs and films of school activities without permission.  Anything that a student uses or includes on these programs or sites that impacts negatively on the school's or other students' image or reputation has to be considered seriously.  The Cardinal Ritter Administration will be monitoring these Internet sites and will hold the students accountable for what they post.  The accountability could take the form of a warning, a detention, a suspension, or possibly a withdrawal for cause.  Because of safety issues, these sites are already blocked from school computers, but, none the less, students need to be aware that off-campus activities that impact on the Ritter Community have to be of concern to the Cardinal Ritter Administration.

 

IMPORTANT REPEAT:

 

EMERGENCY INFORMATION FORMS:  it is very important that the student and the CRCP Administration & Staff have all of the possible emergency numbers updated on file.  This includes home phone numbers, work numbers (if you can be called at work), cell phone numbers, and persons that can respond to emergency needs (relatives, Godparents, good friends, neighbors, etc.)