The mission of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary School is to provide for its students a solid academic foundation within a Catholic Christian environment. In a climate, which nurtures self-esteem and fosters respect for others, our traditional yet holistic educational approach to teaching prepares the students for future success.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary School History …nearly 100 years of service  (click to see the History/Philosophy page)

Holy Rosary School admits students of any race, color, religion, national and/or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, academic programs and activities.

In order to guide the children during their formative years, and create an atmosphere conducive to learning, Holy Rosary School has established firm but flexible guidelines for behavior.

These are based on consistency, firmness, and respect. To help prepare children for the future, great emphasis is placed on teaching students to realize that consequences follow the use of responsible freedom. Children are expected to show respect to all persons and to accept responsibility and consequences for actions that infringe on the rights of others. The support and backing of parents for an effective discipline program is expected.

The authority of each teacher, substitute teacher, aide, coach, lunchroom or playground monitor, custodian, or parent volunteer, applies to all children at all times and in all places at school, at church, on the school grounds, or at any school sponsored activity. Any student who is disobedient or disrespectful toward any of the above persons, who breaks safety rules, or violates another person's basic rights can expect to receive disciplinary action such as those listed below.

Offenses such as forgery, fighting, vandalism, theft, repeated dress code violations, abusive language and/or actions, unauthorized leaving of school grounds, and/or any violation of established school and/or classroom rules carry the following consequences:

1^st offense -Immediate notification of parents and/or detention (loss of recess or detention after school, the duration of time determined by the principal)

2nd offense- Two days suspension and/or parent conference

3rd offense -Grounds for suspension or expulsion

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment between students will not be tolerated at Holy Rosary School.

Sexual harassment is defined as:

Conduct, containing sexual matter or suggestions, which would be offensive to a reasonable person.

Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:

Verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory jokes or comments, slurs or unwanted sexual advances, imitations, or comments

Visual contact such as derogatory and/or sexually oriented posters, photography, cartoons, drawings, or gestures

Physical contact such as assault, unwanted touching, blocking normal movements, or interfering with work, study or play

Retaliation for having reported or threatened to report sexual harassment

All allegations will be taken seriously and promptly investigated. The confidentiality of the alleged victim and alleged perpetrator will be kept. Any student who feels that he/she has been a victim of sexual harassment should report the incident to a teacher, the principal, assistant principal, or school nurse.

Tardiness is disruptive to both the teaching and the learning processes. A student is considered to be tardy when he/she arrives in the classroom after attendance is taken. Students, who arrive after the outside bell has rung and the lines gone in, must report to the office for a tardy slip. A total of three tardiness slips within the same marking period warrants an after school detention.

Parents are responsible for getting their children to school on time. Repeated and unexcused tardiness may result in detention and/or a parent/principal/headmaster conference. Excused tardiness occurs when a valid or serious reason exists as judged by the principal such as a late bus, inclement weather and slippery roads, etc.

Dismissals

Daily Dismissal

Daily dismissal times follow the public elementary school schedule.

Students in grades K-4 exit the building in lines from the side door facing the church. Students in grades 5-8 exit opposite the church side door at the north end of the building.

Walkers are crossed on Regan Street.

Car passengers being picked up by parents exit the building from the side door facing the church.

Drivers picking up students are expected to be on time. Parents of students in grades K-3 are expected to be waiting for their child/children in the schoolyard. Students who are not picked up ten minutes after the end of the school day will be brought to the Extended Care Program and parents will be appropriately charged.

Bus students will assemble promptly at the designated area near the stairs at the edge of the schoolyard facing Regan Street.

The procedure for students being dismissed during school hours is as follows:

Student must present a note to the teacher explaining the reason for requesting the dismissal

Note must be brought to the office in the morning during homeroom

Student will be issued a dismissal slip

The dismissal slip must be brought to the class from which student is being dismissed

Dismissal slip must be given to the teacher at the time of dismissal (student will not be called out of class)

Parent must sign student out in the office at the time of dismissal

Student must leave as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the other students

It is the student's responsibility to find out homework assignments that are given out after the time of dismissal

If the Gardner Public schools find it necessary to cancel school or dismiss early because of weather conditions, Holy Rosary will also cancel or dismiss early. In the event that this occurs, it will be announced on television and radio. You can also access a link on our school website that tells you if Gardner Public Schools have cancelled or not.

In the case of dismissals, students who travel by bus will call home before they are allowed to leave on the school bus. If parents cannot be reached the child will be kept at school.

Students who travel to school by carpool will be dismissed upon the arrival of their ride. Students will call their parents (or carpool) after the bus students have made their phone calls.

Parents are asked to please listen to the local radio or television stations for such cancellations or dismissals and in the case of dismissals, try to avoid calling the school while children are attempting to call home.

For the safety of our students, the school requires that parents call the school office on the morning of the student's absence. Upon the student's return to school, he/she must present a written, signed excuse.

There are general guidelines parents can follow to determine if your child should be kept home from school. If your child has been unable to sleep due to discomfort, flu symptoms, cold symptoms, vomiting or fever they should rest at home and be seen by a doctor if the symptoms continue.

A rash of unknown origin must be evaluated by a physician who must send a note stating it is non-contagious before the child returns to school. The school nurse is required to dismiss any child who may expose others to infection.

If fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit is present, your child must be sent home.

If your child is seen by a doctor, please inform the school nurse regarding such conditions as strep throat (keep home 24 hours after treatment has begun and 24 hours with no fever), contagious pinkeye (home for 24 hours after treatment has begun), and other contagious diseases. Please also remember, under Massachusetts state law, no medications can be given in school (including over-the-counter drugs) without a doctor’s order, a signed parental consent form, and the medication in an original labeled container. Blank forms are available in the nurse’s office at school.

Parents or their designees will be notified should their child become ill or is injured in school and conditions warrant dismissal. It is important that the directives of the parents be indicated on the child's emergency card (issued at the beginning of the school year). Parents need to be sure that current telephone numbers, place of employment, and the names of other responsible persons to act on the parent' s behalf are made available to the school.

Students absent due to illness will have 2 days to make up missed assignments.

Vacations during school schedule are discouraged. Students absent because of vacations taken apart from the scheduled school vacations will be given a week to make up missed assignments.

No work will be given out ahead of time. Any assignments not completed after the allotted week will be given a failing grade.

The bus company providing transportation for our students determines the rules for behavior and safety on school buses. We support these policies. Students remain in their seats at all times and courteous behavior is in order at all times. Infraction of bus regulations results in a written notification to parents. Repeated unacceptable behavior may result in suspension from bus transportation for as long as is determined by the bus company. Parents then become responsible for transporting their student to and from school.

Homework teaches responsibility and self-discipline and involves the parents in the learning process. Homework is needed to reinforce skills that have been taught in the classroom. Holy Rosary follows the Diocesan guidelines with regard to the amount of homework appropriate for each grade level. It is a parent responsibility to see to it that students complete all written assignments and studies to the satisfaction of the respective teacher giving the assignment. Students are required to record their daily assignments in their agenda book. A missing assignment or one unsatisfactorily completed may result in a parent notification and/or detention. A student who repeatedly has missing assignments may be given an after school detention.

The use of bicycles, skateboards or in-line skates is prohibited. Students are not to use these items on school grounds.

Students must follow playground rules as set by the principal and teachers on duty. Students must be appropriately dressed for the weather especially in the winter months when the playground at Holy Rosary School becomes extremely cold. Holy Rosary believes that fresh air and exercise promotes good health and will make every effort to have children outside at recess time. However, in inclement weather or extreme cold students will remain in their classrooms during recess periods.

Holy Rosary School, from time to time, may use a student’s image (either a photograph, movie or sound recording) for educational or advertising purposes. Examples of this are:

School projects

Promotional brochure

School web site

School and/or Parish newsletters

Community and local newspapers

Catholic Free Press

Holy Rosary School promises to adhere to the following rules, with respect to students’ images:

1. Holy Rosary will not associate any identifying information (name, etc.) with a student’s image in mass media (e.g. school web site, commercial television).

2. Holy Rosary may associate identifying information (name, etc.) with a student’s image in local media (e.g. community and local newspapers, Catholic Free Press, School and Parish newsletters).

3. Holy Rosary will not use a student’s image for any profit making enterprise.

4. Holy Rosary will not use a student’s image for any political advertising.

5. Holy Rosary will not give or sell a student’s image to other organizations – exclusively Holy Rosary Parish will retain the image copyright.

In the event that Holy Rosary wishes to use a student’s image outside of the above restrictions, the school must contact the child’s parent or guardian and obtain prior permission.

If you do not wish your child’s image to be used as outlined above, please contact the school office.

Grades 5-8 - Basketball (boys and girls) -Participation in the North Worcester County Catholic School League

Grades 6-8 - Intramural soccer, whiffle ball, kickball

Grades 4-8 - Skiing

Holy Rosary School believes the education of the whole child is vital to the future success of the student. To that end, our students will be allowed to participate in sports at the public schools. The following conditions must be fulfilled in order to participate:

1 - The student must be maintaining passing grades in all subjects and/or not receive two D's in any subject.

2 -The student will be allowed to leave early to participate if all assignments are current. It is the student's responsibility to obtain homework or other class work missed because of an extracurricular activity.

Participation in the annual school play is offered to students in grades 1-8.