Important Information

Our policies page will provide you with all of the info you need on John Paul II Center’s policies.  From absences and attendance, to religious services and school hours, it’s all here.

Absences
When a child remains at home due to illness, it is necessary that the parent/guardian of the child notify the school office by 8:30 a.m.  Direct communication with parents is specifically intended for your child’s protection. An answering machine is available for you to call at a convenient time before 7:30 a.m. It is your responsibility to call us and the Transportation Department to cancel services!

Upon returning from a day of absence, a completed Excuse for absence form issued by the school office should be returned. Additional forms are available in the school office. The child is to give this form to their teacher.

If a child is absent three or more days in a row, a doctor’s excuse must be submitted. A doctor’s excuse must also accompany the absentee note in the following situations, whether the child is absent only one day or more than one day:

Communicable Diseases – Measles, Whooping Cough, Respiratory streptococcal infections, Scarlet fever, Strep throat, Mumps, Impetigo, Pink Eye, Ringworm, Scabies, Mononucleosis.

If your child is not feeling well in the morning, DO NOT SEND your child to school. If your child has any signs of flu, a fever or cough and congestion, please keep them home. If you send your child to school and we feel they are sick and should be home, we will call you to come and pick up your child. A child must remain fever-free (100  or higher) for 24 hours prior to returning to school. Vomiting, fever and upset stomachs will not suddenly go away once your child enters the building. A sick child in school becomes more accessible to other illnesses and may spread their illness. Please be sensitive to the fact that we have some individuals with compromised immune systems.

Appointments

When a child has a doctor or dentist appointment during the day, please complete an Excuse for Early Dismissal form issued by the school office. Additional forms are available in the school office. The child is to give this form to their teacher prior to the date of their appointment. Please come into the office to pick-up and sign your child out of school, and upon returning, sign in and drop your child off at the office.

– No child will be released to anyone other than the parent unless there is direct communication from the parent to do so.  If the custody or guardianship of the child is in question, please notify the principal.

– When a child is late, he/she must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to the school office. The parent must sign-in for the child. Any student arriving after 8:30 a.m. will be assisted to their classroom by a staff member to avoid disrupting the class.

– If a child will be arriving late in the morning due to an appointment, please notify the school office the previous day, during the evening (please leave a message on the answering machine) or call the office before 8:30 a.m.

Attendence

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires your child to attend school on a regular basis.  We ask parents to cooperate in carrying out this state regulation.

Calendar & newsletter
Every month a school calendar is sent home to remind and inform parents about upcoming events. The calendar is also available on this website.  We also mail a newsletter throughout the year. The newsletter includes information about past happenings and upcoming events.

If you are interested in receiving email updates from John Paul II Center, you can sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.  Each email offers unique news, information, and updates from our students and the school.  And don’t worry, we promise not to crowd your inbox (because we dislike that as much as you).

Change of address or phone number
The office should receive written notice immediately of any changes of address and/or phone number for emergency purposes and so student records may be kept up to date.

Communication

Communication between school and home is of utmost importance. To insure that information reaches home, a communication folder and notebook is sent home daily from your child’s classroom with your child. In addition, communication from the school office will be included weekly (typically Thursday) with your child. Please read all information and return all papers that require a reply as soon as possible and return the envelope to school the next day. In addition, the school office will send communications via email to the email address we have on file. Please make sure to review the emails and respond accordingly. Email addresses should be kept current with the school office.

Conferences & I.P. meetings

The teacher or parent may schedule conferences at any time. The schedule below gives you a timeline for Individual Plans:

September – Parent input form

I.P. Meetings are year-round

November, March, and May – Written progress report on IP sent home (parent may request a meeting if desired)

End of year conferences – optional

Parents are expected to participate in these meetings. Your input is invaluable when planning and implementing your child’s individual program.

Electronic equipment & toys
Electronic equipment (cell phones, hand-held electronic games, iPods) is not permitted in school unless the teacher has approved it. Also, please refrain from allowing your child to bring toys into school. These are a distraction and make it difficult for the teacher to focus on more important matters.

Field trips

Field trips are planned so a child will derive the maximum educational value from them. The teacher plans these trips with consultation from the principal. A permission slip is sent home for each trip taken. The parent must always sign and return the form before each trip whether they are attending or not. Verbal permission is not acceptable. If the written permission slip is not turned in, the child may not attend the field trip.

Field trips are considered educational and are an important part of our program. Students are expected to attend as part of their experience at school. If a student does not participate in a field trip without a doctor’s excuse, they will receive an unexcused absence. A student can be excluded from a field trip due to behavioral issues. The principal and teacher maintain the right to determine which students will participate in each field trip.

Inclement weather

In case of inclement weather, please check the following stations for information on school delays or cancellations:

John Paul II App

Social Media – Facebook and Instagram

WEEU AM, radio (830 on your dial)

WRFY FM, radio (102.5 on your dial)

WRAW AM, radio (1340 on your dial)

WFMZ, television (Channel 69) or the website: www.wfmz.com

We will have our own announcement on these stations. Any closings or delays will be announced under John Paul II Center. If your home school district’s schedule is different than ours, it is your responsibility to get your child to school.

Please be alert to early closings in bad weather by following the delay/closing announcement for bus riders for the school district in which you reside. Your child will be dismissed when bus transportation from your district arrives. Someone must be home to receive your child. Those who receive private transportation will be contacted by phone.

In a better effort to accommodate parents, John Paul II Center will also post a Facebook update on school delays and closings.

Lateness
When a child is late, he/she must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to the school office.

Lunch program

We currently offer lunch three days a week. Lunch is prepared by our secondary class. Tuesday and Wednesday are a variable rotation of a hot lunch and Friday is pizza day. Menus are sent home weekly. Drinks and snacks are sold every day. Extra drinks are 35 cents each and snacks are 50 cents each. Students pay for lunch daily as they go through the line. In an emergency situation, if a child would forget his/her lunch or lunch money, the school office will give a credit to him/her and will send home an I.O.U. payment for the credit would be due the following day.

Medication
Some students are required to take medication during the school day. Please send the medication in the original prescribed bottle with no more than a week’s worth of medication. We will administer the medication and keep a log for our records.

Religious services

Mass will be celebrated monthly. All school Masses are presently being held in the Multi-Purpose Room. Individual class services and Mass will be held in the chapel. Priests from various parishes are asked to celebrate Mass for us.

Penance services are held twice a year during the seasons of Lent and Advent. May procession is held during the month of May. A service, honoring Mary, is also held in October.

For students who are Catholic, sacramental preparation takes place during the school day under the direction of the student’s teacher and religion coordinator.

School hours

8:15 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.

Students report directly to their classroom upon arrival. Closing prayers are at 2:30 pm with dismissal immediately. If you are picking up your child at the end of the day, please park and walk to the front entrance, but do not block the bus lane.  Students will be brought out into the parking lot.

Sign in/out policy

All doors are locked during school hours. All visitors (volunteers, therapists, observers, parents) must enter the building by the main office and must sign in upon entering the building. Before leaving the building, all visitors must sign out.

Uniforms

WINTER UNIFORM – Dates:  November 1 through April 1

  • – Black, long sleeve or short sleeve, knit polo shirt with School Logo
  • – Khaki pants (can be purchased anywhere)
  • – Girls may wear Khaki skort (can be purchased anywhere)
  • – Dark socks
  • – Dress Shoes
  • – Black cardigan sweater (optional) 

SUMMER UNIFORM – Dates:  First day of school through Nov. 1 and April 1 thru the end of school

  • – Black, long sleeve or short sleeve, knit polo shirt with School Logo
  • – Khaki walking shorts or Khaki pants (can be purchased anywhere)
  • – Girls may wear Khaki skort (can be purchased anywhere)
  • – White socks
  • – Clean sneakers

     NOTE:  No other casual clothes may be worn.

GYM DAY UNIFORM

  • – JPII T-shirts
  • – Black knit shorts or sweatpants (can be purchased anywhere)

– No leggings, cargo pants, or jeans.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Hair and jewelry are not to be excessive.  Earrings are not acceptable for boys.  The last Thursday of the month generally is a dress-down day.  Please remember to dress your child appropriately.  The principal has the right to deem what is appropriate.