A. CURRICULUM OR COURSE OFFERINGS
The school has a faculty of certified teachers, educating children from pre-school through grade eight. In addition to classroom teachers, the staff includes a full-time resource teacher, reading and math specialists, writing workshop teacher, librarian, computer teacher, foreign language teachers, and a full-time aide as enrollment dictates.
The basic subjects are taught employing various educational techniques and audio-visual equipment. Spanish, French, art, music, computer, and physical education classes are part of the curriculum.
Religion, as an integral part of the curriculum, is taught daily and permeates all aspects of everyday school activities. Our clergy help students participate in liturgies and experiences which give positive expression to their faith.
Facilities include a fully-equipped library, computer technology center, science laboratories, art and music rooms, a gymnasium, auditorium, and cafeteria.
The Holy Trinity Interparochial School computer lab was updated in September, 1996. The Learning Edge, an educational technology firm, was contracted to provide computers, software, a part-time and certified teacher/technology facilitator, and faculty instruction. The lab classroom is located off the cafeteria. All students in the school are given formal computer classes as well as additional computer use at lunchtime and as individual grade schedules allow.
Extracurricular activities include a school newspaper, choir, service club, girls' softball, boys' and girls' basketball, cross-country and spring track, cheerleading, and all levels of scouting.
Instrumental music is offered for those who wish to take advantage of in-school private lessons. This is a separate expense, not included in the standard fees and tuition.
All students are expected to demonstrate growth, especially in reading, mathematics, and English, the disciplines for which passing grades are the criteria for promotion. Consideration is given to each student when tracking advancement and planning courses. Provision is made for varied abilities along with periodic re-evaluations. Literature is incorporated into the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade reading programs.
In mathematics, problem solving and application are stressed along with mastery of basic operations.
English is the third of the major areas of concentration. Mechanics and good writing techniques are taught.
Many interdisciplinary approaches are used which enhance academic areas such as science and social studies. The inter-active approach is employed in the humanities and sciences.
All grades, Pre-K through 8, participate in physical education classes.
Holy Trinity students have the benefit of cultural education - art culminating with an annual exhibit, music with a presentation of Christmas and spring concerts, and a choice of the French or Spanish languages in grades 6 - 8.
The school library supports and enhances the curriculum, addresses recreational reading needs of the students, and assists students in learning to use the library, a necessary and integral part of creating lifelong learners. The library maintains a collection of approximately 6,000 books covering a wide range of reading levels and information. The library also maintains subscriptions to ten children’s periodicals which circulate. Reference materials housed in the library include several sets of encyclopedia , dictionaries, atlases, almanacs, literature guides, and biographical dictionaries. In addition to print reference materials, students may use the library computers for further research needs. Several CD-ROM reference tools are available. Students may also use the Internet for further research. Library volunteers, usually parents of students, assist the librarian in the daily functions of the library. The library is open from 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. from Monday through Thursday. Students may use the library during a scheduled class period or in their spare time.The library is entirely self-funded through semi-annual book fairs in the fall and spring and through the donation of books through the library’s Birthday Book program.
B. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION - NON CATHOLIC STUDENT
The non-Catholic student is welcome at Holy Trinity Interparochial School. The non-Catholic student is expected to understand and agree that the school exists to educate within the framework of Catholic values. Non-Catholic students must participate in religion classes and liturgical services scheduled for students during the school year.
C. PRE-SCHOOL
Recognizing the importance of the formative years, the pre-school program offers a series of learning experiences which foster cultural enrichment as well as school and social readi-ness.
Pre-structured activity centers include a block play area, doll corner, manipulative toy areas, art center, science and wood-working area which enable children to learn while they play. Music, small and large muscle development activity, cooking and outdoor play, all lend themselves to the cognitive and physical growth of the young child.
D. HOMEWORK REQUIREMENTS
Assignments are given in order to reinforce and ensure independent mastery of subject matter taught in class and to provide enrichment. Parents are expected to supervise and check both written and study assignments. This is of great importance in lower and middle grades where study habits are being formed. The supervision should decrease and more in-dependence be encouraged as the student progresses through the grades. Since homework may be counted as part of the student's grade, excuses will not be accepted, except for illness or other serious circumstance. Homework will be assigned on a regular basis. Parents should provide conditions conducive to carrying out homework assignments. They should help to some degree, but not do the child's assignment, since it is his/her responsibility. If the parent notices the child is encountering extreme difficulty completing homework within a reasonable time frame, s/he should notify the teacher.
There may be rare occasions when a child forgets text books essential for home assignments. If the school staff is available (before 4:00 p.m.) the student will be allowed to retrieve what s/he needs. It is unfair to expect a custodian or a person who works at Holy Trinity in another capacity to open the building or classrooms. Children should be encouraged to write assign-ments and check that s/he has everything needed before leav-ing the school.
HOMEWORK DURING ABSENCE
If parents wish, they may call the school office and request as-signments. Teachers will send books and assignments to the office by 3:00 p.m. each day the student is absent.
Students are required to make up only the essential concepts of work missed during the days of absence. It is the responsibility of the student to see his/her teachers to obtain assistance. In the case of prolonged absence (more than 2 weeks) home in-struction is advised. If there is advance knowledge of that absence, application for this service should be made immediately. Call the school office for information and application procedures.
E. EXTRA HELP
Teachers want all students to succeed in school. Whenever students do not understand what has been taught or are having difficulty with work, arrangements should be made to re-ceive extra help. While a teacher may ask a student to come for tutoring, a student may ask the teacher as well.
Parents should also recognize that some students may need help outside of the school day. Classsroom teachers will work with a child’s tutor in order to assure a unity of purpose.
F. REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS REPORTS/HONOR ROLL
REPORT CARDS are issued quarterly for grades 1 - 8. Par-ents are asked to examine the card carefully, sign the envelope grades (1-4) or the Personal Development sheet (5-8) and return it immediately to the school office.
PROGRESS REPORTS are issued midway through each marking period, parents will be advised when pupils are not achieving or work-ing to their potential. Likewise, commendation is given to pupils whose school work has been of outstanding quality. If a student does not receive a mid-term report, it would indicate that his/her work is satisfactory to that point. However, the stu-dent may receive a failing or unsatisfactory grade on his/her re-port card before the end of the marking period, if school work is of poor quality.
HONOR ROLL is established in grades 6-8. Categories are as follows: Principal's List, First Honors, Second Honors.
KINDERGARTEN REPORT CARDS are issued at the end of January and in June.
G. GRADING 1 - 8
CODE:
O Outstanding
S Satisfactory
I Improvement Needed
U Unsatisfactory
A+ (97-100)
A (92-96)
B+ (88-91)
B (83-87)
C (73-77)
D (70-72)
U Below 70
E - Effort Mark
A - Academic Mark
H. RETENTION
A student will be retained when there is reason to believe s/he will benefit from retention. As soon as the teacher is aware that there is a possibility of retention a parent conference will be arranged. Every effort will be made to meet the student's needs utilizing special services where they are required. If the principal in consultation with the teacher, still deems that retention is necessary, every effort will be made to prepare the student and parents for the following year.
Conditional promotion will be considered for a student who fails a major subject (reading, math, English). Proof of remedial in-struction must be submitted prior to the new school year, if promotion is to be realized.
I. RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS
VIEWING RECORDS
A parent/guardian has the right to view his/her child's/children's academic
record, academic standard-ized test results, health records, and emergency
sheet (emergency phone numbers, etc.). These records can be made available
upon request.
GOVERNMENT RECORDS
Records attached to publicly funded services provided through the local Board
of Education such as Child Study Team Reviews, Compensatory Education, Speech,
ESL, etc. are the property of the Board. A par-ent/guardian who wishes to
examine these records or to pro-cure additional copies for his/her own use
must apply to the Board. The school is not permitted to distribute this
informa-tion to anyone, not even to a parent/guardian.
TRANSCRIPTS
Transcripts of academic and health records may not be given directly to the
parent/guardian in the event of a transfer. A request for transfer must be
submitted in written form by a parent/guardian. Transcripts will be sent
directly from school to school when the sending school receives an official
written request from the receiving school. If the par-ent/guardian does not
submit a request for transfer that in-cludes an authorization to send a
transcript, the receiving school must secure permission for the parent/guardian
to request the transcripts from the "sending" school. If a transcript must
be given to a student or parent/guardian for any excep-tional reason, it
will be stamped “UNOFFICIAL” or “ISSUED TO STUDENT.”