St. Peter's School Handbook (pdf) Our school handbook contains information such as: Mission Statement, Philosophy, Spiritual Development, Life Skills, Admissions Policy, Registration Process, Academic Program, Attendance Policies, Inclement Weather, Discipline Rationale, Uniform Dress Code, Out of Uniform Days, Safety, and Athletic Program. Parts of our handbook are included on this site for quick reference.
We of St. Peter's Parish are a faith community who have as our model our Lord Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of His mission. We profess who we are by our shared belief and understanding of the Gospel. As people called to conversion, we come together to celebrate and bear witness to God's redemptive activity in our lives. We live out this mission of Christ through prayer and worship and through our baptismal call, which challenges us to minister to and with others.
St. Peter’s will be a welcoming parish, a catalyst for spiritual formation, the living word for the community, and an advocate for those in need.
In fulfillment of St. Peter’s Parish Mission and Vision, St. Peter’s School works to accomplish the following:
While providing God's children superior educational opportunities in an accepting and loving Catholic environment, St. Peter's School serves its parish community and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area as a leader in preparing children for a morally responsible and educationally sound adulthood, grounded in the spirituality of Jesus Christ.
Burning in each child is the light of Christ. Our commitment is to keep that light burning brightly through our staff's professionalism and dedication. Our parents, students, faculty and staff pride themselves on making St. Peter's a home for excellence and achievement fostered by the appreciation of God's presence in each individual. At the heart of our mission is our desire to bring all children to a deeper knowledge and love of God. All St. Peter's students are led by their parents and teachers through an exploration of the Catholic faith. This endeavor is designed to reveal God's desire that we love unconditionally, appreciate each individual's uniqueness, accept the responsibilities of Catholic Christian, and develop an awareness and reverence for God's people and the Earth we share.
We recognize that parents are the primary educators for their children, and we work to complement the values taught at home. At the heart of our mission is our desire to bring all children to a deeper knowledge and love of God. Participation in the religious program of the school is required for everyone. All children, Catholic and those of other faiths, attend religion class, liturgies, and any programs involving their grade levels. All-school Masses and prayer services are scheduled throughout the year; times for these special services are listed in the school calendar. Parents and friends are invited to attend at any time. Teachers will share with parents the responsibility of preparing Catholic second graders for the reception of the sacraments. Parents are required to attend a meeting that focuses on the readiness of their children for reception of First Reconciliation and First Communion.
St. Peter’s School is a ministry of St. Peter’s Parish. Everyone who uses the service of our school shares in the responsibility of providing for its financial resources. For members of St. Peter’s Parish, this can be done through stewardship (including tithing); for non-parish families, direct tuition. While no distinction or preference is observed regarding sex or race, we do reserve the right to screen applicants regarding religious orientation and practice. St. Peter's is a Catholic school and active Christianity/spirituality as a personal experience for each child is essential for complete integration into our faith community.
St. Peter’s is a community where stewardship is practiced. Active members of St. Peter’s Parish are encouraged to support the parish and its ministries with their gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Active members of St. Peter’s Parish have access to all the ministries provided by the parish, including St. Peter’s School, grades K-8*. To be considered an active member of St. Peter’s Parish, the following conditions must be met:
* Any difference between the cost of education and our parish subsidy to the school will be paid by parish school families as "adjusted tuition," established to ensure the stability of the school. For the 2011-12 school year, the adjusted tuition equals $250 per child. While our goal is to achieve "zero tuition" for all our parish families, the amount may vary based upon gifts pledged annually.
Parents who are not parishioners may apply to send their children to St. Peter’s School on a tuition-paying basis. This would include non-Catholics and Catholic members of another parish. Tuition parents must remain current. Quarterly reports, transcripts, and diplomas may be withheld until tuition payments are current. Pre-registration for ECLC and Kindergarten will be in October; registration for all other grades for the 2012-13 school year will be in February.
We understand financial situations can change, however, and we wish to work with all families to ensure continued school attendance. Families are encouraged to contact the parish priest or parish business manager immediately if a situation occurs which makes it difficult to continue honoring the gift pledged or tuition payments.
If an individual grade level enrollment reaches 69 children including parish families and tuition families who enrolled prior to the following school year, no new tuition families will be accepted for that grade. If the number of children in each grade level exceeds 69 with these students, accommodations may be made so that the quality of the students’ educational experience will not be compromised. If the class size of 69 children is not reached, tuition families with siblings currently in school will be admitted. Additional tuition families will be admitted based on the order in which their registration material and school records (transfer students) are received in the school office.
Students with special needs will be subject to the guidelines of the school registration process, as well as additional guidelines specific to Special Education services as cited in the Administrative Policy Manual #300.3.
For admission to ECLC students must be three years of age and potty trained. Families of existing ECLC students will receive registration materials during the month of October. Those materials must be returned to the school office by the specified deadline. If the materials are not received by the deadline, current ECLC families risk losing their place in ECLC. After the deadline, registration materials will be distributed to St Peter’s school families and others that have requested a packet. New students will be accepted in the following order: 1. Siblings of students already enrolled in St. Peter’s School that are up-to-date with their current pledge/tuition. 2. Children of St. Peter’s parishioners. Families must have a history of tithing to the parish. 3. Children of families outside St. Peter’s Parish.
For admission to kindergarten, Diocesan policy is followed requiring students to be age 5 by July 31. Parents of incoming kindergartners are asked to furnish the school with copies of the child's birth certificate, Baptismal record, and immunization documentation. Prior to admission, kindergarten students must take part in the spring kindergarten screening. Pre-registration for kindergarten will be during the month of October.
For those students transferring into St. Peter’s, immunization information, sacramental records, and transcripts from former school(s) must be sent to St. Peter's School; in addition, an interview must be scheduled with a school administrator and parish priest (if there is intent to join parish). The administrator will place new students in classes according to their level of achievement. Acceptance will be determined by the results of tests, prior academic records, teachers' observations, and parental input. All transferring students must have a satisfactory disciplinary record from their prior school(s). Students are placed on a probationary period through the first year. Students are expected to comply with all the school regulations and to conduct themselves during class time in a way that is conducive to learning. Parents will be expected to show an interest in the education of their child by cooperating with the administrators and faculty in school matters. If a student is unable to progress in a regular school curriculum and meet with the expected code of conduct, a conference will be held with the parents to explore the educational resources in the area that might assist us or better meet the child's needs. At the end of every quarter, the faculty will review the status of all new students with respect to behavior and academics. If registration is closed for any particular class, the request for acceptance will be kept on file; parents will be notified of an opening.
In February, children are registered for the next school year. Registration packets are provided to parish families that are up-to-date with their tithe. Tuition families must be current in their payments to receive the registration packet. The family will complete the appropriate forms and make a payment of one-fourth of the registration fee. The second payment is due in March, third in April, and the balance is due in May. Registration is open to current school families and parishioners through the month of February, after which time classes will be opened to those outside the parish or school.