A presentation for St. Mary School staff, a member of the Diocese of Columbus. This presentation highlights pieces of the Faculty and Staff Handbook for 2012-2013.

1. St. Mary School
FACULTY AND STAFF HANDBOOK
2012-2013

2. Our Mission and Beliefs
St. Mary Catholic Elementary School, working together with our families as a
supportive, caring Catholic community, strives to develop and enhance the
spiritual, educational, personal, physical and social growth of our students.
We are dedicated to celebrating and serving each student’s diverse needs in a
challenging, educational Catholic environment.
Students at St Mary School are encouraged by the Staff to develop their Catholicity by:
* Respecting others and accepting individual differences.
* Showing responsibility for their actions.
* Serving societal needs.
* Acquiring a fundamental understanding of Catholic doctrine.
* Participating in our faith-based community.
St. Mary School Staff encourages each student’s academic development by:
* Promoting a learning environment where students are appropriately challenged and actively engaged
in the learning process.
* Providing instructional and assessment techniques to help students achieve their full potential.
* Promoting life-long independent learning.
* Expecting family members to become active participants in the educational process.
* Expecting staff members to enhance their own education to continue to meet the needs of our
students.

3. Points of Emphasis for this year
 Dismissal
 Standards based grading
 Report cards and Effort reports
 Building Care and Respect
 Student Code of Conduct
 Cell Phones
 Technology

4. Protecting God’s Children
As set forth in Diocesan policy 4110.1—All school staff and volunteers who
have care, custody and control of students must have on file a current
Bureau of Criminal Investigation criminal background check and must
attend “Protecting God’s Children” workshop.
2 deep at all times with volunteers and teachers
Windows uncovered, doors open (keep in mind tutoring situations)
*Review staff only areas and adult only areas with students (signs are
posted)

5. Organizational Items
 The tardy bell is 7:50am. Students who are late need to be marked
tardy consistently so that all siblings are tardy when need be.
 A student who is tardy four times during a semester will be issued a
detention by the homeroom teacher. The homeroom teacher is
responsible for keeping accurate tracking of a student’s tardies.
 Teachers who use book programs are responsible for collecting,
ordering, distributing, payment, etc.
 Student teachers or visitors from outside agencies are NOT to use the
copier unless trained on its use.

6. Organizational continued
 Please inform the office each time your class is going to be somewhere
other than where your schedule says you are to be.
 Responses to parents should occur within 24 hours unless the note is
received on Friday or before an extended break.
 All student textbooks should be covered at all times during the year.
 Due to confidentiality and HIPAA regulations, the office computers
(secretary, nurse, and Principal) should NOT be used or accessed unless
you have asked approval. Please ask approval at the start of the academic
year or prior to each use.
 Please help keep a business like atmosphere in the main office. During the
day there are often many non-faculty persons about, so discretion in the
discussion of student-related information is imperative.

7. Student Safety Items
 By law, school officials have the duty to render first aid and the duty not
to render anything more than first aid.
 Only the Nurse, Secretary, or Principal may dial 911 due to an
emergency!
 If students are taken on a field trip emergency card must accompany
the child and be in the hands of the assigned chaperone.
 A first aid kit from the Nurse’s office should also be taken on field trips.
 Students should be under the supervision of an adult whenever they are
in a classroom.

8. Safety items continued
 Teachers should step out into the hall whenever classes are changing to
ensure that students do not disturb other classes by running or by
creating unnecessary disruption, especially in the stairwells. This
includes the times that students visit their lockers. Hallway supervision
is necessary.
 All chemicals - including cleaning items and especially aerosol cans -
should be kept in a secure (locked), cabinet away from the students
and any heat sources.
 Teachers should initiate a lesson on safety during the first week of
school which stresses support and respect for bus safety, playground
safety, and building safety. Teachers should also discuss fire alarm and
tornado procedures and procedures in the event of a crisis.

9. Safety continued
 Ohio Revised Code 2151.421 now states that by law it is the
responsibility of each professional staff member to report immediately
to the appropriate community agency any suspected case of child abuse
and/or neglect. The professional staff member shall also notify the
building principal about the referral. (Dioc. Pol. 5140.0)

10. Fire Drill Evacuation
The normal exit routes are as follows:
Pre-School- exit through center ground level doors outside classroom and walk to front
sidewalk of William St toward St. Mark’s
Kindergarten- exit through center ground level doors outside pre-school room and walk to
front sidewalk of William St toward St. Mark’s
Grade 1B/Sp.- exit through door at back of hallway closest to 1st grade room and walk toward
Van
Grade 3- exit through west center front stairwell and walk to William St. sidewalk
Music- exit through west center front stairwell and walk to William St. sidewalk
Grade 1F/2B- exit east stairwell front near room and walk to front of church on Henry Street
Grade 4- exit back West stairwell closest to room and walk across parking lot to sidewalk
Grade 5- exit back West stairwell closest to room and walk across parking lot to sidewalk
Grade 8, 7S, Science-exit back south stairwell closest to 8th gd. rooms and walk out back
door to Van area
Grade 6S, 7T- exit through west center front stairwell and walk to William St. sidewalk
PE classes - exit closest door if in gym—at teacher direction
Computer/library- exit stairway closest to class and walk to William St.
Common area- exit through main commons doors of building to Van area

11. Tornado safety
All students are to be on the lowest level with no students in the stairwells
or on the 2nd floor.
Doors should be left slightly open to prevent a vacuum effect.
Teachers should remain with their classes and help maintain quiet.
Library/Computer should plan to arrive last so that we can determine
open areas for their classes
A weather radio is in the principal’s office and is in operation at all times
so that any current weather emergency can be verified.

12. Dismissal
*point of emphasis
 Students who ride the bus at the end of the day are to wait in their
room until their bus is called over the PA. Students may then walk,
after the phrase “may now leave”, to the courtyard to get on the
bus. It is the teachers responsibility to keep rooms and halls quiet so
bus numbers can be heard when called. If students miss the bus, the
classroom teacher may be asked to monitor the child until someone
picks up that child.
 Students who are car riders will be dismissed to the gym. Car riders
will be dismissed from the gym. Walkers will be released from their
homeroom after the bus calls are finished. Teachers should remain in
their classroom until all students have left.

13. Prayer
 Each school day will begin with public prayer, usually led by the
principal or a student over the PA. Prayer before lunch is to be said in
the classroom before the class leaves for the Commons. Ideally, the
school day should end with a prayer also.
 All staff members are strongly encouraged to attend Mass given its
importance as a Catholic school.

14. Lesson Plans
 All new teachers to the building are to submit their lesson plans for the
week by Tuesday morning at 7:50am. Returning teachers lesson plans
must be available in their room by Tuesday morning should the
Principal wish to check the plans. If teachers plans are not available,
weekly turn in of plans will be required.
 format for lesson plans is one that includes the key topic or theme,
correlation to the graded course of study/standard, planned activities,
and method of assessment. An effort should be made to make lessons
cross-curricular whenever possible and should focus on the goal of
relating content to students’ everyday life.

15. Standards Based grading
*point of emphasis
 All teachers are to follow the Diocesan expectations for standards based
grading marks. A (N) indicates the students is not meeting the
curriculum standard, a (check) indicates the child is meeting the
standard and performing on grade level, and a (+) indicates the child
consistently exceeds standards and demonstrates knowledge beyond
their grade level. Checks indicate that students are meeting
expectations. Please keep in mind that Catholic Schools for generations
have held students to high standards of achievement and this does not
automatically warrant a (+) grade.
 Elementary grades primarily should also include in their curriculum
packets areas of the graded course of study that can not be exceeded
(areas students are unable to earn a + due to mastery level)

16. Report Cards and Effort Reports
*point of emphasis
 All teachers are expected to write appropriate comments regarding
student progress on quarterly report cards or the quarterly effort
reports. Report cards and effort reports should be submitted to the
principal so that they may be reviewed prior to distribution.
 Quarterly effort reports are to be completed for every student. An effort
mark should be given by every teacher that student has during the
quarter. This is an important document as many parents are interested
most in their child’s effort and overall behavior. In some ways, the
effort report tells more about a child’s “life skills as a student” than the
report card which measure progress toward grade level standards.
 Interim due dates are 9/25, 12/3, 2/19, 4/29 and report card due dates
are 10/29, 1/14, 3/25, 5/28

17. Building care and respect
*point of emphasis
 a cooperative effort between students and teacher should be made to
keep the room tidy in order for the maintenance person(s) to do his/her
job. Students should be made aware that it is neither the teacher’s job
nor the maintenance person’s job to clean up after them.
 Teachers are asked to keep their classroom floors and equipment in
good shape by reminding students about proper care and respect of the
school’s physical plant. Each teacher in grade K-8 should also review
proper restroom behavior and review how to report problems.
 A sign-out sheet should be part of every classroom routine

18. Professionalism
 Teacher professionalism extends to all areas of the building including the teacher’s
lounge and extends to life outside the school day. Please do your part to keep
conversations in the lounge positive and constructive to helping students and
colleagues reach their full potential. Outside of school at community events, athletic
contests, the grocery, etc. teachers represent St. Mary School and should uphold
professionalism.
 It is the nature of the profession that teachers be role models for their students.
Students are quick to observe when teachers do not practice what they
teach/preach.
 Faculty and staff members are expected to adhere to standards of dress and
appearance that are compatible with an effective learning environment.
 All faculty and employees of the schools of the Diocese of Columbus serve as role
models for the students with whom they work and as leaders in the community.
Consistent with these roles, all faculty and employees shall dress in an appropriate
manner and have an appearance that is appropriate

19. Student code of conduct
*point of emphasis
 All teachers are asked to review the Student Code of
Conduct with their homeroom on the first or second
day of school. A copy of the code of conduct (p. 16 of
faculty handbook) will be provided to teachers.
 All teachers are expected to consistently enforce the
school wide discipline plan to be presented by the
committee at the opening meeting

20. Phones
*point of emphasis
 A teacher should not use a cell phone (talk, text, surf web, etc.) during
class time or when students are present for any reason.
 Students are NOT to have cell phones in the classroom or halls. If they
bring cell phones—they must be in their book bags in the OFF position.
If they are visible to the teacher, the teacher is expected to confiscate
and send the phone to the office.

21. Technology
*point of emphasis
 Teachers signing out the ACERS are responsible for ensuring that
students are following the school and diocesan technology policies.
Proper care and handling of the computers is imperative. Computers
should be neatly returned to the Computer Lab by the teacher following
their use with computers returned to their proper slot on the mobile
cart.
 Up and about during computer use
 Proper student handling and carrying of computer
 No games
 Encourage/teach students to be digitally responsible
 Ensure all computers are present prior to returning the cart

22. Communication with Parents
 Teachers will be responsible for creating and updating their
“Curriculum Night” packet. A separate form indicates what is required
within the packet. All specialist courses should prepare a 1 page
syllabus or outline of what is covered in each grade along with
expectations and assessment measures that are used for any class
included on the report card.
 All teachers are required to attend the evening Curriculum Night in the
fall and post a curriculum night packet on their teacher webpage.
 24 hour return time on all phone calls and emails unless an extended
break/vacation or long weekend

23. Substitutes
 Advance notice is appreciated when a teacher requires a substitute
teacher; however, this isn’t always possible. Please call the principal no
earlier than 5am and no later than 6 a.m. if you require a
substitute due to sudden illness or to a family emergency.
 Call the school secretary or principal by 2:00 p.m. if you anticipate that
you will require another day off so that we can ask the substitute if
he/she can return the next day before the substitute leaves.
 The principal may request that a teacher present a doctor’s excuse for
sick leave.
 By the second week of school, all teachers should have an emergency
substitute folder prepared to be used in the event of a sudden illness or
accident when you may not be available to provide plans.

24. Sign-off
 The Faculty and Staff handbook sign-off and the
confidentiality sign-off will be distributed at the
opening staff meeting.

25. Let’s have a successful year…