New Parent Handbook

Welcome to St. Paul’s Episcopal School!

Information Handbook for New Families St. Paul’s Episcopal School 161 Dogwood Lane Mobile, Alabama 36608 (251) 342-6700 www.stpaulsmobile.net 1

Dear New Parents, On behalf of the faculty and staff, I would like to welcome you to the St. Paul’s Episcopal School family. St. Paul’s is a great place for our children to grow, and we are proud of what they achieve while they are students and what they will achieve in the future. The core of the educational experience at St. Paul’s – academics, the arts, athletics, spirituality, and service to our community, gives every student an opportunity to succeed.

We anticipate another great year for our school, and we want to ensure that your transition is a smooth one. We will make every effort to answer all of your questions about our policies and procedures, but if any do come up, please do not hesitate to call on us.

Our academic year is a busy one, and information about events and activities will be forthcoming in these pages and from the school in the days to come.

We are honored to have the privilege of being a part of the education of your child.

Welcome to St. Paul’s Episcopal School.

F. Martin Lester, Jr. Headmaster

2

Table of Contents St. Paul’s School Mission Statement and Honor Pledge…………………………………………………..4 St. Paul’s School Holiday Calendar……………………………………………………………………………….5 School Start and Orientation Dates……………………………………………………………………………….6 Website Information……………………………………………………………………………………………………7 NetClassroom……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 Administration and Staff Phone List Information……………………………………………………………7 School Supplies and Text Books…………………………………………………………………………………..8 Uniforms……………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………..8 Used Uniform Sale and Used Book Sale……………………………………………………………………….9 Summer Reading………………………………………………………………………………………………………...9 Dining Services………………………………………………………………………………………………………......9 PayForIt.net Services……………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Carpool…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10 Inclement Weather and School Closings………………………………………………………………………10 After School Care…….………………………………………………………………………………………………..10 Summer Day Camp……………………………………………………………………………………………………10 Learning Through Service…………………………………………………………………………………………..11 Upper School Community Service……………………………………………………………………………...12 Sports……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13 Giving Back………………………………………………………………………………………………………………14 Upper School Technology………………………………………………………………………………………….15 Parent Council…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..15

3

St. Paul’s Episcopal School Mission Statement St. Paul’s Episcopal School is committed to providing the highest quality college preparatory education in a Christian environment. Through a variety of experiences and activities, we encourage individual growth and achievement. By example and instruction, the St. Paul’s community fosters respect, integrity, responsibility, service, tolerance, citizenship, and the highest moral and ethical standards to prepare each student for a changing and challenging future.

Honor Pledge St. Paul’s has a student-initiated Honor Pledge to which student adherence is required. Students will be required to write or sign the following phrase, “I have neither given nor received aid on this assessment.” Students who voluntarily choose not to sign the honor pledge will receive a zero on the assignment.

4

2012-13 SCHOOL HOLIDAY CALENDAR Check the School Website for continuous calendar updates.

August 13 ............................................................................... Upper School Students Return August 14 .............................................................................. Middle School Students Return August 15 ............................................................................... Lower School Students Return September 3 ............................................................................................ Labor Day Holiday October 15....................................................................... Faculty Workday/Student Holiday November 19 - 23 ............................................................................... Thanksgiving Holidays December 14, 17, 18 ............................................................................ Upper School Exams December 18 ............................................................................. Noon Dismissal LS and MS December 19 – January 2 ............................................................................ Christmas Break January 3 ........................................................................................................ Classes Resume January 21 ............................................................................ Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday February 11-15........................................................................................... Mardi Gras Break February 18....................................................................................................Classes Resume March 18 ......................................................................... Faculty Workday/Student Holiday March 29 ............................................................................Noon Dismissal for Good Friday April 1 - 5........................................................................................................... Spring Break April 8............................................................................................................Classes Resume May 21 - 23 ........................................................................................... Upper School Exams May 24 ....................................................................................... Noon Dismissal LS and MS

5

2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR School Start Dates: All divisions start school at 7:45.

Upper School (9-12) — August 13th (Orientation dates will be posted on the website by mid July.) Full Day (Dismiss at 2:58) Middle School (5-8) – August 14th (Orientation dates will be posted on the website by mid July.) Full Day (Dismiss at 2:58) Lower School (Pre-K Morning-4th) — August 15* *Please note the first three days of school for LOWER SCHOOL will dismiss as follows: PK Morning will dismiss at 10:00, PK All Day-2nd will dismiss at 11:30, and 3rd and 4th will dismiss at 11:45/11:50.

Orientation Dates: Upper and Middle School orientation dates will be held a few days before school.

Date, time and place will be posted on the website by mid-July.

Lower School Parent Preview (parents only) will be on Monday, August 13 and Drop In Day (parents and children) will be Tuesday, August 14. Details will be posted on the website closer to the start of school.

6

Website www.stpaulsmobile.net We are offering some exciting new features on our website! Under My Profile you will be able to update your contact information as well as make private any fields you do not want published in our online directories, and see your Giving History. We will be offering a searchable online Student and Parent Directory. These directories reside behind the login and are only accessible to current parents, students and faculty. Please view the Master Calendar to see all upcoming events. New parents will receive a user name and password for the website and Net Classroom prior to the beginning of school. Once logged in, you may customize the view of any calendar located on our site. New features and information will be continually added to the website so check back often! Remember that the website is a work in progress so if there is something that you are unable to find please contact us!

NetClassroom NetClassroom allows parents and students, grades 5 through 12, to access grades, assignments, and activities online through the St. Paul’s School website. Parents of students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 4 are also able to access pertinent information including schedules, announcements and billing information. New parents will receive a user name and password for the website and NetClassroom prior to the beginning of school.

Administration and Staff Phone List Contact information for all St. Paul’s employees, including the administration and staff, is located in the Faculty/Staff Directory under the About tab of our website.

This feature enables parents to search by name or department.

7

School Supplies and Text Books School supplies for grades PK-Morning through 6th are billed on your first tuition statement. Supplies for grades PK-Morning through 4th will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom. Supplies for grades 5 and 6 should be picked up at the Campus Store in July or August.

The supply list for grades 7 through 12 will be posted on the St. Paul’s website. You may purchase your supplies at the Campus Store or at the vendor of your choice.

All text books and summer reading books can be purchased at the St. Paul’s Campus Store. Campus Store summer hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00am until 3:00pm. The Campus Store will be closed during the last week of May for inventory. For questions or assistance please contact Claudia Plaskett, Campus Store Manager, or Marion Stabler, Campus Store Assistant Manager: (251) 461-2193.

Uniforms All students in grades PK through 12 are required to be dressed in the appropriate St. Paul’s uniform every day. Listed below are the sources for St. Paul’s uniforms and school shoes. For the specific dress code and personal appearance guidelines, please refer to the St. Paul’s Student-Parent Handbook under the School Life tab of our website.

Sunshine Uniforms is located on Airport Blvd. just east of Hillcrest Road: (251) 345-7776.

J-Ray Shoes: (251) 342-6322 Jerry’s Famous Footwear: (251) 343-7127 PE Uniforms and sweat shirts, as well as the red gym shorts that Lower School girls wear under their jumpers, can be purchased in our Campus Store (251) 461-2193.

8

Used Book Sale and Used Uniform Sale There will be a Used Book Sale and Used Uniform Sale held at the end of each school year. The Used Book Sale is May 24, 2012 from 4:00pm until 6:00pm in the Main Campus Cafeteria. The Used Uniform Sale is May 15, 2012 from 7:30am until 1:00pm in our Advancement Office at Wilmer Hall. Information is also posted on the Master Calendar portion of our website located under the School Life tab.

Summer Reading All summer reading requirements and information for grades 3 through 12 will be posted on the St. Paul’s website. Summer reading books will be available in the Campus Store.

Dining Services The Saints’ Café serves all students in grades PK-All Day through 12. The cafeteria on the main campus, serving grades 3 through 12, offers a complete assortment of food and beverages that may be purchased on an individual basis with cash or by taking advantage of either a declining balance account or the “Meal Plan” program.

A full service salad bar, daily “Healthy Helpings” hot menu items, daily hot & cold themed items called “Saints’ Selections,” along with traditional fare, hot sandwiches and desserts are offered daily. Lunches are delivered on a daily basis to the Lower School campus for students in grades PK-All Day through 2, who order in advance.

For Meal Plan information, sign-up forms, and the Saints’ Café menu please visit the Saints’ Café page on our website under the School Life tab or contact Jon Laycock, Cafeteria Manager: (251) 461-2150; JLaycock@stpaulsmobile.net.

PayForIt.net Services We are excited to announce as a parent of a student in grades 3-12, you are now able to view your child’s cafeteria declining balance for free and for a fee, make payments on the account over the internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using PayForIt.net. View the Dining Services portion of our website under the School Life tab for details.

9

Carpool For carpool guidelines, please refer to the Student-Parent Handbook, which will be posted under the School Life tab of the website prior to the beginning of school. If anyone is interested in actually driving through car pool prior to the start of school, contact Julie Taylor: (251) 461-2129; JTaylor@stpaulsmobile.net.

Inclement Weather and School Closings If inclement weather requires us to cancel a full day of school or dismiss school early, school officials will notify local radio stations, WKSJ, and WAVH (106.5) and local television stations WKRG 5, WALA 10, and WPMI 11. St. Paul’s also uses the ADT Alert System, where parents will be notified by either cell phone, home phone or email.

The school answering system will announce cancellation beginning at 6:00am.

Please call: (251) 342-6700

After School Care St. Paul’s After School Care is a program supervised by the YMCA and is designed to help working parents with children in Pre-Kindergarten All Day through grade 6.

After School Care is held on St. Paul’s Lower School campus for PK-All Day through grade 2 and the Dogwood Lane campus for grades 3 through 6. For information concerning After School Care, contact Sue Allen at sallen@ysal.org, office: (251) 971-2448 or (251) 626-0888, or cell: (251) 490-2797.

Summer Day Camp St. Paul’s offers a summer day camp that is supervised by the YMCA. The program is offered to children ages 5 to 12. To register, or for more information about Summer Day Camp schedules, please visit the Summer Day Camp section of our website or contact Mary Taylor at: mtaylor@ysal.org or 251-786-6279 or The YMCA: 251-344-4856

10

LEARNING THROUGH SERVICE The Learning Through Service program at St. Paul’s Episcopal School encourages our students to develop a lifelong commitment to helping others. Through a variety of activities, St. Paul’s seeks to both create a sense of service within the school and to improve the community around us.

Learning through serving others begins in 1st Grade at St. Paul’s. Our Service Program is comprised of three branches: grade level Community Service, Philanthropy Ambassadors, and the Service Leadership Class. Each grade level, from 1st through 12th, has a specific focus area for which the students perform service. Most grade levels have a Service Day where the entire grade participates in a project. By the time a student graduates, he or she will have participated in a broad array of service projects in diverse areas. For further information or questions please refer to the Student-Parent Handbook or contact our Community Service Coordinator, Leslie Lerner: (251) 342-6700 ext: 2356; LLerner@stpaulsmobile.net.

1st Grade

Elderly

2nd Grade

Veterans and Active Duty Military

3rd Grade

Environment

4th Grade

Hearing and Visually Challenged Population

5th Grade

Elderly

6th Grade

Homeless & Hungry

7th Grade

Children

8th Grade

Mentally & Physically Challenged Adults

9th Grade

Families Going Through Medical or Economic Hardships

10th Grade

Environment

11th Grade

Active Military & Veterans

12th Grade

Mentally & Physically Challenged Children

11

Upper School Community Service Community Service is an integral part of the St. Paul’s experience. Students in grades nine through twelve are required to complete 15 hours of community service each year. They may choose projects suggested by the school, or may help any 501©3 nonprofit agency such as a food bank or homeless shelter that has special significance for them. Additionally, most grade levels have a Service Day during which the entire grade participates in a project relevant to their focus area.

REQUIRED COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: Grade 9: Grade 10: Grade 11: Grade 12:

15 accumulated hours of service are required to become a sophomore.

Hours are due by May 1.

30 accumulated hours of service are required to become a junior.

Hours are due by May 1.

45 accumulated hours of service are required to become a senior.

Hours are due by May 1.

60 accumulated hours of service are required to graduate.

Hours are due by January 15.

Students may only receive credit for community service work performed for an agency recognized as a 501 ©3 non-profit organization by the state of Alabama. All community service work must be submitted on the approved Community Service Hours Form within 30 days of completing the service. Summer hours are credited to the next year.

12

Head Coaches Athletic Director………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Gerry Strang Middle School Athletic Director……………………………………………………………………………………..Andy Robbins Varsity Football……………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...Steve Mask Varsity Volleyball………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Kelli Hillier Cross Country and Indoor & Outdoor Track………………………………………………………………………….. Jim Tate Swimming and Diving……………………………………………………………………………………………….Anne Marie Sims Boys Basketball…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Jimmy Messer Girls Basketball…………………………………………………………..………………………………….Lauretta Freeman Horn Varsity Baseball…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Shane Sullivan Softball………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Mike Williams Boys Tennis………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... Laura McGee Girls Tennis…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Melissa Baker Golf……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...Sandy Santoli Boys Soccer………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Chad Harrelson Girls Soccer…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Mike Fricke

For any questions please contact Gerry Strang, Athletic Director: (251) 461-2152; GStrang@stpaulsmobile.net.

Coaches Club The Coaches Club is made up of many members including parents, alumni, faculty, staff, administration, parents of alumni and friends of St. Paul’s School. If you would like to find out more, or become a member of this valuable club that furthers the efforts of the St. Paul’s athletics program please view the Coaches Club section of our website under the Athletics tab or contact Gerry Strang.

13

Giving Back The Annual Fund, Parent Dinner Auction, Capital Campaigns and the Endowment are the highest priority fundraising activities of the School. Each St. Paul’s family is asked to make a donation to the Annual Fund on which the School relies to offset annual operating expenses over and above tuition.

Parent participation to the extent that each family is able to give is essential when receiving funds from foundations. Periodically, the Board of Trustees will authorize fundraising for capital improvements and the Endowment. Ongoing fundraising occurs to raise money for the School’s endowment funds to secure financial stability for the School’s future. These funds are placed in The St. Paul's Episcopal School Foundation, Inc. for investment purposes.

In an effort to limit additional fundraising, the School Board of Trustees has approved fundraising guidelines which allows only one fundraiser for each club or sports program per year. Please visit the St. Paul’s website under Giving Back for more information. We value your support and thank your family for embracing our mission and our children’s education.

14

Upper School Technology/Laptops Currently all students, grades 7 through 12, are required to have laptops. For the academic year 2012-2013 St. Paul’s Technology Department has selected three Lenovo notebooks for use by St. Paul’s students. All of the notebooks will meet the students’ academic needs, but one or the other may be a better fit for your student.

Students purchasing a new laptop for the 2012-2013 school year must purchase one of the recommended notebooks. Please visit the Laptop Selections section of our website under the Academics tab for detailed information. Parents also may find the Laptop Program FAQs portion of our website very helpful.

Parent Council Every parent of a St. Paul’s student is invited to become an active member of the Parent Council. The function of Parent Council is to support the mission of St. Paul’s Episcopal School and we do this in a variety of ways. Parent Council is structured with a Lower School division and a Middle/Upper School division. Each division has grade representatives (room mothers) and committee chairmen. Parent Council meets regularly throughout the year – sometimes jointly and sometimes separately. The meetings begin promptly at 9:30am, last one to one and a half hours, and often feature a speaker, members of the administration or representatives of the student body. For more detailed information please visit the Parent Council section of our website under the Giving Back tab.

15