Policies

St. Anthonys Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its hiring practices, programs or activities.

TECHNOLOGY POLICY

AT SCHOOL

- Technology (screens of any type) in the classroom is limited to the occasional video demonstration (for example, a YouTube clip) shown by the teacher to the class. We want our students to be actively engaged with the real world around them, speaking with their fellow students & teachers, & developing healthy brains.

- Students may not touch or use teachers' phones except in the case of an emergency, in which case a call may be made with permission.

- Students are not allowed access to any phones, tablets, televisions, video games or computers at any time during school hours or functions, including when traveling in vehicles.

- In situations where it is not a distraction from the class, and it may be pleasant to listen to music while working, music (classical, swing, or folk) may be played by the teacher over a radio or phone. Students are not allowed to touch the device or tamper with the music in any way.

- when traveling in vehicles of teachers, classical, swing, or folk music or appropriate classics on audio book may be played.

AT HOME

- Families who join SAA should be aligned with our mission & cheerfully embrace a serious limitation of technology in the lives of our students - families who are willing & happy to put aside phones, tablets, computers, video games or any social media accounts for the good of the student. We ask that families encourage their students to spend their time engaging with people, nature, and in healthy activities and that any home screen time be had on the weekend and as a family, such as a family movie night.

- All families and students agree to abide by the no technology policy for the duration of the student's enrollment in St. Anthonys. If even one student is watching TV, playing video games, and getting caught up in pop culture at home, it brings a disturbing attitude & worldliness that effects the entire class negatively, and we also want to guard against the invasive onslaught of pornography.

HOMEWORK POLICY

We have an almost-no-homework policy - usually no homework other than some Humane Letters reading assignments.. We want our students to have time to play, relax, and enjoy the beauty of the world around them after spending their day at school.

PLAGIARISM POLICY

Plagiarism is considered a very serious offense at every academic institution. It is a form of lying. At the 1st offense, there will be a phone call from the director and a meeting with the director, parent, teacher and student to discuss the seriousness of this offense. At the 2nd offense, the student will be removed from the school for the remainder of the year with no refunds and the usual payment schedules will apply, depending on the time of year.

In general, be aware that plagiarism includes knowingly:·

- turning in someone else's work as your own·

- copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit ·

- failing to put a quotation in quotation marks·

- giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation·

- changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit·

- copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not

POLICY ON EVOLUTION

The Catholic Position:

"What is the Catholic position concerning belief or unbelief in evolution? The question may never be finally settled, but there are definite parameters to what is acceptable Catholic belief.Concerning cosmological evolution, the Church has infallibly defined that the universe was specially created out of nothing. Vatican I solemnly defined that everyone must “confess the world and all things which are contained in it, both spiritual and material, as regards their whole substance, have been produced by God from nothing” (Canons on God the Creator of All Things, canon 5).

Concerning biological evolution, the Church does not have an official position on whether various life forms developed over the course of time. However, it says that, if they did develop, then they did so under the impetus and guidance of God, and their ultimate creation must be ascribed to him.Concerning human evolution, the Church has a more definite teaching. It allows for the possibility that man’s body developed from previous biological forms, under God’s guidance, but it insists on the special creation of his soul. Pope Pius XII declared that “the teaching authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions . . . take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter—[but] the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God” (Pius XII, Humani Generis 36). So whether the human body was specially created or developed, we are required to hold as a matter of Catholic faith that the human soul is specially created; it did not evolve, and it is not inherited from our parents, as our bodies are.

While the Church permits belief in either special creation or developmental creation on certain questions, it in no circumstances permits belief in atheistic evolution."

from https://www.catholic.com/tract/adam-eve-and-evolution

STUDENT ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE POLICY

If a student needs to miss school for some reason, parents should text the Directress & the Teachers as soon as the need for the absence is known with a valid reason for the absence. Valid absences include those due to illness, doctor or dentist appointments, funerals, weddings, & other reasons may be excused on a case by case basis.

Students should arrive for class between 8 and 8:15 am. If a student has three unexcused tardies, they will be counted as an absence. If a student has more than three unexcused absences, a meeting will be called with the parents to assess whether or not St. Anthonys is the best fit for the family.

Students must be picked up between 3:30 and 3:45 pm. If you are running late, please text the Directress.If you are consistently late, a meeting will be called to discuss a solution.

STUDENT SIGN-IN & RELEASE POLICY

Students will sign themselves in with signature and arrival time each morning. This attendance sheet will be checked by a faculty member.

Students will only be released to those parties listed on your enrollment form as verified for pick-up. If you want your student to walk home, you must fill out a separate permission form.

Students must sign themselves out when their ride arrives with signature, who is picking them up, and the time. They must shake hands with a faculty member before departing and let them know they are going.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POLICY

TORNADO OR SEVERE STORM

In the case of a sudden onset of severe weather, the students & faculty will gather in the area under the stairs and in the hallway.

FIRE

Fire exits will be marked. Students will practice fire drills periodically.

In the case of a fire, 911 will be called, and students will leave Akathist House and walk to the end of

the driveway to await assistance.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

If St. Francis Montessori and/or the University of Dallas close for inclement weather, we will also be closed.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION POLICY

Violations regarding cell phone use or use of other electronic devices, including smart watches:

1st time: $25 fine and a conference with student and parents

2nd time: removal from the school.

Any remaining tuition must be paid.

Violations of the dress code:

1st time: verbal warning to the student

2nd time: verbal warning, $5 fine, email to the parents

3rd time: $10 fine, conference with student and parents

If repeated infractions of the dress code occur, the student's desire to participate in the mission of the school will be discussed, resulting in possible dismissal from the school if compliance is not forthcoming.

Disobedience, behavioral infractions, and inappropriate touching:

1st time- the teacher will address the issue with the student & an email will be sent to the parents

2nd time-parent conference with the Directress/Disciplinary head

3rd time-student is expelled for the remainder of the semester

The family will still be responsible for the rest of the semester's tuition.

At the discretion of the Directress, some offenses may result in immediate dismissal from the school, with no refund of tuition or fees. The Directress reserves the right to make final decisions.

PARENT VISITING POLICY

Parents are always welcome to come by and see what we are working on; however, please be aware that any unexpected visit does disrupt the student work time. If you want to visit, please be as discreet as possible.

FIELD TRIPS & TRANSPORTATION POLICY

If field trips are to be taken, parents will be asked to sign permission slips for each trip. Drivers will keep the permission slips and emergency contact forms for each student with them on field trips.

If a teacher would like to schedule a field trip, he or she should arrange it with the Directress & then the teacher will be provided with the necessary permission slips.

Parents will sign a general transportation permission slip for the purpose of weekly travel to and from St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church, St. Francis Montessori and Akathist House.

BACKGROUND CLEARANCE POLICY

All teachers, assistants, and parent volunteers must complete & submit background checks through TX DPS (more information can be found on the Teacher Resources page of our website)

VACCINATION POLICY

We believe that vaccinating one's children is a personal decision that should be left to the informed judgment of the parents.

Vaccinations are not required to attend St. Anthonys.

In accordance with state law, if you choose not to vaccinate, please turn in a copy of your Texas State exemption form with your application.

ILLNESS POLICY

STUDENT ILLNESS

The following are signs and symptoms that should alert you to the possibility of a contagious disease. Please consult your child's physician as appropriate, and do not bring your child to school until an infectious cause has been ruled out. If you visit a doctor's office, please wait 24 hours without symptoms before returning to school.

1) A fever over 100 F on the ear thermometer, under the arm, oral, or rectal.

2) Any type of rash or questionable bumps, and/or red spots.

3) Green/Yellow/Brown Mucus coming out of the nose, mouth, or eyes.

4) Uncontrollable coughing with or without congestion.

5) Loose stool or diarrhea more than once in a day. (The child should not come back to class until they have gone 24 hours without diarrhea. As long as the child has diarrhea they should be considered contagious).

6) Vomiting or stomach flu of any kind. (The child should not come back to class until they have gone 24 hours without vomiting. As long as the child is vomiting, they should be considered contagious).

Please do not bring your child to school if he or she exhibits any of these symptoms. If you bring your child with these symptoms, you will be called to pick him or her up.

Please remind your student to practice good hygiene at home, as we will do at school, for the sake of us all:

- wash hands thoroughly using soap and water for 30 seconds

- cover mouth with the inside of the elbow when coughing or sneezing

- bolster the immune system, eat a healthy diet, and get sufficient sleep

IMPORTANT:It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the Director and Tutors if your student will be absent. Please text as soon as illness is known.

St. Anthonys Academy is unable to dispense medication.

TEACHER ILLNESS

In the case of a teacher who is ill or who must stay at home with ill children, the teacher will:

- text the Directress as soon as the illness is known

- attempt to find a substitute teacher for her/his classes (the teacher will pay the substitute)

- provide a plan for the substitute to follow

It is possible, depending on length of the teacher's absence, that phone or video conferencing with the teacher may be done during class time in order to keep the students on track with their work plans.

In the case of contagious illness at Akathist House, one of two options will be decided upon, depending on the situation:

1.) the ill person(s) will be carefully quarantined upstairs & students will spend the majority of their time outdoors if possible

2.) classes will temporarily convene at the Christensen House