School News:

Links and Letters for Parents:

• Open Letter
• School bullying

Important Reminders:

Attendance                            Regular attendance at school is necessary for every student. A student should not be absent or tardy except for illness or another grave reason. A Santa Cruz Calendar has been enclosed to help you fulfill your responsibility to have your child in school when school is in session. Students should not be taken out of school early for holidays or family trips. A student may not be given credit for a class unless they are in attendance at least 90% of the days the class is offered. Texas school compulsory attendance laws mandate that a student miss no more than 3 days or parts of days (tardies are considered parts of days) within a 4-week period.

School Hours

And Tardies                           School doors open at 7:30 a.m. Students are not to be dropped off until 7:30 a.m.  School begins promptly at 7:45 a.m. with assembly in the PAC. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to be role models practicing a habit of punctuality. Please have your children at school BEFORE 7:45 a.m. If you arrive late, parents are to accompany their child to the office for a tardy slip. Five tardies after 7:45 a.m.,

regardless of the reason, will count as one day of absence, and are included as part of the 90% of days the child is required to attend in order to receive credit for the school year.   

School Dismissal                  School dismisses at 3:00 p.m. For our students’ safety, any student who is left on the school grounds after 3:15 p.m. will be taken to the office. The charge is $1.00 a minute up to $20.00. The YMCA does not take drop-ins at the school.

YMCA After School               Care begins on August 24, 2007 from 3:15 to 6:30. For enrollment information, please contact the school office. Before school care is available 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. For enrollment information, please call the school office.  The regular after school care will take place here on the Santa Cruz Campus.  The Early Dismissal Day care and School Holidays will take place at the YMCA in Buda.  Children will be bussed to the Y from the school campus.

Handbook:                             The Family Handbook will be distributed at the Open House on August 19^th.  It is your copy to keep at home. Please read and review this with your child.

Handbook Form            Please Sign--Both Parents And Child(ren)—after reading the Family Handbook.  This form needs to be returned to school on August 21^st at the parent orientation.

Handbook Policies           Please review the Santa Cruz Family Handbook policies. Focus special attention to the following policies, permissions and agreements that are confirmed when you sign the “Handbook Agreement Form”  

• Technology Code of Ethics
• Publication, Video, Internet Consent and Release
• Uniform Policy
• Attendance and Tardy Policies
• Arrival and Dismissal Policies
• Immunizations

Medication Form       This form must be completed for your child to be able to take any medication at school.  It only needs to be completed when s/he needs to take medicine during school hours. This is required for both prescription and OTC’s (Tylenol, aspirin, etc). It is included here for your use any time during the school year.           

EMERGENCY INFORMATION FORM
This form--one for each FAMILY--must be completed and   returned to school on or before August 21^st. Please be sure that all information is accurate. Students not having this form will not be allowed to attend classes.

Supply Lists              Supply lists are posted on the website at http://www.santacruzcc.org/school under admissions. Please be sure your child brings the required supplies the first day of school and that you refresh the supplies as needed. It is recommended you label each item with your child’s name except as noted on the lists.

Book Bags                With safety in mind, book bags must be no larger than 16” x 13” x 7”. No rolling backpacks, brief cases or suitcases will be permitted.

Lunch Program           At this time, there are not enough students for a hot lunch program.  It will be added as soon as feasible.  Students will have to bring their lunch and milk will be available for purchase. More information will be available at the parent orientation on August 21^st. 

Ethics and Integrity  Parents/volunteers must take the Protecting God’s Children session and have the background checked before they can have contact with students. Please complete or update the clearance process to avoid being unable to help; this includes volunteering in the classroom, for field trips or helping with lunch.

Volunteer Form      Carefully examine the VOLUNTEER sheet and decide how you will be able to help at the school NOW.  It is important that this form be returned before the FIRST day of school so that our programs can begin functioning immediately. 

Ethics and Integrity in Ministry

Protecting God’s Children, a workshop on child sexual abuse, is held throughout the diocese.  This workshop is part of the diocesan Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policies that were adopted in January 2002. Anyone—volunteers, paid staff or clergy—who serves minors or vulnerable adults in a parish, school or diocesan setting should attend one of these workshops. Please register ahead of time so that adequate material may be available. You may inquire about childcare. Materials used in the workshop include testimonies from victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse. If you have any concerns regarding your attendance at the workshop, please contact Emily Hurlimann at (512) 697-2047 to arrange an alternative arrangement to receive your training. Such inquiries shall remain confidential.

Spanish

Protegiendo a los Niños de Dios, es un taller sobre el abuso sexual infantil que se llevará al cabo [check diocese]. Este taller es parte de las políticas diocesanas sobre Ética e Integridad en el Ministerio, mismas que fueron puestas en marcha el pasado mes de enero del 2002. Ya sea – voluntarios, personal administrativo o integrantes del clero, quiénes trabajan con menores o adultos vulnerables, en una parroquia o a nivel diocesano, deberán acudir a uno de estos talleres. Por favor regístrese anticipadamente a fin de que el material necesario pueda estar disponible comunicándose con [Información de la persona a quién llamar]. Usted puede solicitar el cuidado y atención de los niños. Los materiales usados en el taller incluyen testimonios de las víctimas y autores del abuso sexual. Sí usted tiene algún asunto relacionado con su asistencia al taller, por favor comuníquese con Emily Hurlimann al (512) 697-2047, a fin de acordar la manera en que usted pueda recibir su capacitación. Tal información se mantendrá de manera confidencial.