Admission Policies Menu
Please click on a following link or scroll down the page for more information.
The mission of Blessed Sacrament School is to provide a high quality academic program in a genuinely Catholic environment that affords students the opportunity to develop morally, spirtually, aesthetically, emotionally, and intellectually.
We believe:
- that parents are the prinary teachers of their child(ren) that the school supports the parents' efforts to foster the development of the whole child that students, as members of God's family, have obligations to Church, family, country, community, and those less fortunate than themselves
- that the school should be a Christian community where students, faculty, clergy, parents, staff, and parish organizations work together in an environment of mutual respect, honesty, and support
The objectives set forth by Blessed Sacrament School have been designed to prepare our students to live successfully at the religious, intellectual, psychological, social, physical and moral level.
Religious:
- To include religious values in all learning.
- To instill in students a love of God and the Catholic faith.
- To enable Catholic students to participate in the celebratrion of the Eucharist and the sacraments, and to have all take part in religious activities.
- To encourage all students to develop a religious outlook and espouse faith values.
Intellectual:
- To utilize teaching methods which impart knowledge, develop intellectual skills, deepen insight, and encourage aesthetic appreciation
- To develop effective and lifelong habits of learning
- To encourage a desire for excellence in achievment consistent with each student's ability
- To provide opportunities which stimulate critical and creative thinking
Psychological:
- To help students to understand themselves as persons and to develop a positive self concept
- To enable students to form relationships based on mutual respect and love
Social:
- To recognize the individuality of each student, teacher and staff member, and the value that each has in our Catholic school community
- To generate understanding and cooperation between the school and the larger parish communities
- To help students broaden their understanding and appreciation of all the people in our society and to respect everyone's right to lead a meaningful and dignified life
Physical:
- To foster a suitable level of physical fitness in students
- To develop safety practices and habits which will carry over into their everyday lives
- To increase students' awareness of the importance of good health habits in their daily living
Moral:
- To encourage students to make wise choices and to accept responsibilities for their actions
- To develop an appreciation for the necessity of rules in society
- To develop an awareness of the right of others and respect for their opinions
This school gives preference in admission to Catholic students living within the boundaries of Blessed Sacrament and St.Joseph parishes. As room permits, Catholic students from other parishes, siblings of presently enrolled students, and other applicants will be considred for admission.
Children must be:
- six (6) years of age on or before September 1 to be admitted to first grade;
- five (5) years of age on or before September 1 for entrance into kindergarten;
- four (4) years of age on or before September 1 for accetance into K4.
All new middle school students are placed on probation for their first nine (9) weeks at Blessed Sacrament School. At the conclusion of that time they are evaluated on their ability to handle the academic and disciplinary requirements of the school.
At the time of registration for new students, copies of the following documents are required: birth and baptismal certificates, South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, a copy of report cards from the past two years, and a copy of the pertinent section of a custody agreeement, adoption document, or immigration form, where applicable. New students for grades four through eight are required to take a placement test.
Blessed Sacrament School is aware that some children have been diagnosed to have special needs. It is the parents' responsibility to provide documentation and information to the principal, prior to registration, regarding personal conditions which may require special services by the school. In these caes, each situation will be evaluated from several perspectives: the overall needs of the child, the educational standards of the school, and the school's ability to provide the necessary services.
The time of registration for new and returning students for the following school term will be announced in January of the current school year. A non-refundable registration fee is paid at the time of acceptance of a new student.
If, after acceptance, it is learned that important information has been withheld or altered, the adminstration leaves the right to deny admission or further attendance.
In conformity with state regulations, school is in session 180 days unless a weather or national emergency forces its closing. Parents/guardians are responsible by law to have their child regularly attend school. Excessive absence or tardiness may cause the school to take action for failure to attend.
Regular attendance is important for student success in school. The continuity of lessons is disrupted by any absence, however short its duration. For this reason, parents are urged to see that their child is present each day, all day, unless the child is ill.
The school day begins at 7:50 a.m. and concludes at 2:35 p.m. Students must be in their assigned areas when the starting rings at 7:50 a.m. or report to the school office for a tardy slip. Repeated tardiness will result in a letter informing parents the number of times tardy as well as requirements regarding two hours of tutoring for classes missed on a habitual basis. Arrival after 9:00 a.m., causes a student to be marked absent for the morning. A student who leaves before 11:00 a.m. and does not return, will be considered absent for the whole day. A student who leaves between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and does not return, will be considered absent for the afternoon. When a parent has been notified of a sick child, from that time the child is marked absent. Students who leave for medical appointments and are out of school for two (2) or more hours, will be marked absent for one half (1/2) day.
If there is any change in the way a child is going home, a note must be sent to the teacher, who will in turn send this note to the school office. Students who must have after school appointments are to be picked up at the school office BEFORE 2:15 p.m. in order to avoid interference with the afternoon carpool procedures.
Absences are defined as lawful (excused, unexcused) or unlawful. When an absence is excused and lawful, a student will be permitted to make up work missed during the absence. If the absence is unexcused or unlawful, the student will not be allowed to sumbit make-up work for the time absent. Only the principal may allow an exception.
Lawful absences include: student illness, emergency medical appointments, serious illness or death in immediate family, participation in an activity representing the school (this must be pre-approved).
When a student is absent from school, the parent/guardian must phone and notify the school the morning the child is absent. Upon returning to school, the child must present his/her teacher with a note properly signed and dated giving the dates and reasons for absence. An absence is considered unexcused and unlawful until the note is received, and the student will not be permitted to make up any school work. A student who is absent for three or more consecutive days is to present a doctor's excuse upon returning.
South Carolina law states that if a student misses more than ten (10) days of school, a doctor's note must be presented explaining the frequent absences or, the student may be required to repeat the currrent grade. A "seen at the office" note is not a satisfactory medical excuse.
Ordinarily, medical appointments should be scheduled outside school hours. When an emergency appointment is neccesary, the child should bring a note to school stating who will take him/her for the appointment and the time that the adult will arrive. All children who leave during the day must be signed out at the school office and signed in upon return to school.
Vacations are not considered legitimate absences, so should not be scheduled during regular school time. The student will take immediately, upon the day returned, any tests or receive a ZERO for that grade.
Early departure on days immediately preceding a holiday is also highly disruptive and fosters an attitude that school time is not important. The student will not be permitted to make up tests or work missed because of early departure.
For their safety and the safety of others students are not allowed to return to the classrooms for forgotten items, books, or homework once they are dismissed from class for the day.
Discipline in school serves several functions:
- it promotes an environment where learning can occur; it trains children in appropriate social conduct;
- it helps develop the moral conscience of the child.
A discipline program works best when it is supported by school and home. Essential for its effectiveness is trust.
Discipline Policy
For grades kindergarten through three, disciplinary situations will ordinarily be handled by the classroom or subject teacher. The teacher will explain expected conduct and consequences for misbehavior to his/her classes. For repeated infractions or consistent disruptive behavior, the teacher may require the student to attend a detention period before, during, or after school (not to exceed one hour). Parents will be notified. If conduct does not improve, a parent-student-teacher conference will be held. For continued misbehavior, or a very serious infraction, the student may be referred to the school discipliarian, and if necessary, be issued after school detentions.
Students in grades four through eight will be issued demerits for the following types of infractions:
- Disrespect to authority
- Leaving school property or assigned area
- Fighting, or any inappropriate physical contact
- Failure to comply with school regulations/procedures
- Disturbance or misbehavior in class or hallways
- Misconduct in church, e.g. talking, laughing, chewing gum
- Harassing another person
- Damaging another person's reputation
- Failure to attend a scheduled detention
- Defacing or damaging the school's or a student's property
- Chewing gum on school premises
- Writing and/or showing obscene notes, writing, or gestures
- Possession of dangerous or prohibited object
- Writing threatening messages
- Threatening harm to persons or to premises
- Profanity
- Forgery
- Cheating
- Smoking
- Vandalism
- Stealing
This list is not meant to be conprehensive, nor are all of these behaviors of equal weight. The disciplinarian may issue between one and nine demerits for a particular infraction, depending on the school's assessment of its severity and the student's culpability.
Demerits and detention slips must be signed and returned to school the next day. A parent's signature only notifies the school that the demerit has been seen by the parent. Failure to return the signed notice will result in the issuance of an additional demerit for each day late.
In all grades, the classroom and subject teachers will work to help the child adopt behaviors that promote learning, compassion, and consideration of others. When proactive measures fail, brief afterschool detention, school community service (including manual labor), or a teacher mentor plan will be considered. Students who resist changing their behavior will be issued demerits, and scheduled for detention. At fifteen (15) demerits, a student will be denied participation in field trips ans other special programs.
If a student reaches ten (10) deemerits, a conference will be called. The parent and student will then be informed of the additional academic and disciplinary penalties, including suspension and possible non-acceptance for the next year, that will accrue if the student continues to earn demerits. Parents who choose not to comply with the disciplinary program will be asked to withdraw their child because conflict between the parent and school confuses the student and is counter-productive.
The school may also hold a student accountable for conduct at school sponsored or school related events on or off the premises and/or outside of regular school hours. The school also reserves the right to deny continued attendance to a student whose behavior in a public setting damages the reputation of the school.
HEALTH INFORMATION
Volunteer parents staff the school health room during lunch hour to provide basic first aid.
The work of these volunteers is invaluable, but it is limited care. The school does not provide the services of a nurse nor the facilities of a school clinic.
A child should not be sent to school if s/he
- has vomitted the night or morning before school; has run a fever within the past twenty-four (24) hours;
- has a contagious disease.
Should a child become ill during school time, every effort will be made to contact the student's family to arrange for the child to go home. There is no place available in school for a sick child to remain over a period of several hours.
Office staff will dispense necessary medication such as required for asthma, epilepsy, etc. diabetics, during the school day. If a student suffers from allergic reactions that require access to an Epi pen, parents should bring two to the school office: one to be kept there, and one that will be placed where the classroom teacher will have quick access to it. All other medication should be given outside of school hours, if possible. Three times-a-day medications should be given before school, after school, and at bedtime for optimal coverage. There is a written Medication Permit Form that must be completed before any medication may be dispensed. It requires a physician's signature (not stamp).
Medication must be in its original container with specific directions from the physician on the label. Over the counter medication must also be in a container with a pharmacy prescription label. Antibiotics will not be given at school by school personnel.
When medication must be given in school, it is to be brought by the parent or guardian to the school office. Children are never permitted to carry or store medication in lockers, backpacks, etc. This poses a serious hazard and will result in disciplinary action.
As a Catholic school, Blessed Sacrament is committed to providing a sound religious foundation for its students. As part of their daily religion classes students are taught the customs and traditions of the Catholic community. This includes the ways of prayer and liturgical worship that are distinctively Catholic.
All students who attend Blessed Sacrament School must study religion as part of their academic program and attend the religious services scheduled by the school.
Prompt arrival at school is expected of all students. Late arrival disrupts class and causes a loss of instruction time. Any child who is not in line for the 7:50 a.m. bell is considered tardy. A tardy student must report to the office immediately upon arrival.
The school office will keep a record of tardiness. Students who are frequently late will be required to make up for lost academic time by attending tutoring sessions (under the direction of a teacher) which the parents will be responsible for setting up, paying for, and for providing proof of completion. For every ten (10) times that a student is tardy, s/he will br required to complete two (2) hours of tutoring. The final report card will be held until the scholl has received verification that the tutoring has been completed.