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READ THIS IN JUNE (AND AGAIN IN AUGUST)
Opening of School Information - 2015-2016
DO NOT USE KOOL-AID TO COLOR HAIR DURING THE SUMMER AND EXPECT IT WILL WASH OUT IN
A FEW WASHES. SOME FAMILIES DISCOVERED THIS FACT THE HARD WAY IN SUMMER 2012. ANY
HAIR COLORED OR HIGHLIGHTED DURING SUMMER MONTHS MUST BE DYED BACK TO NATURAL
COLOR BY AUGUST 26, 2015.
YOUR CHILDREN ARE BEAUTIFUL EXACTLY AS GOD CREATED THEM –
HAIR COLORING IS NOT NECESSARY.
Dear Saint Charles School Families,
As this school year ends, many plans are in place for the 2015-2016 school year. We look forward to
the new school year beginning on August 26, 2015. Next year’s theme, Merciful Like the Father, is
based on the announcement from Pope Francis that beginning December 8, 2015, there will be a
special Jubilee Year of Mercy. After some prayer and conversation with Father Ryan Mann, we have
decided to adopt a theme of mercy and spend the year praying with scripture. In particular, we will
be using the parable of the Loving Father (also referred to as the Prodigal Son). We will also, with
direction from Father Terry Grachanin, be introduced to various works of art depicting this Gospel
passage(Luke 15: 11-32). This theme is a change from previous years and we look forward to the
challenge to become more loving and merciful while delving into scripture on a developmentally
appropriate level. During these summer months, let us pray for one another!
Please read this packet now and then place it in a safe place so you can refer to it in August.
Have a safe, healthy and enjoyable summer – See you at weekend Mass, Vacation Bible School and
volunteering at the Carnival!
Mrs. Eileen Updegrove
Opening of School Schedule – 2015-2016
Curriculum Night - Grades 1-8: On Monday, August 24, families are invited to learn about the
curriculum for the school year. This format has returned based on feedback from families and
teachers. This will be the opportunity to drop off school supplies.
Grades seven and eight: The evening begins in the gym at 6:00 PM. From 6:00-6:25, the junior high
teachers will share important information about curriculum and policy. From 6:30-7:30 PM, families
may visit the junior high classroom, drop off first day supplies and students can get their locks and
begin practicing the combinations.
Grades five and six: The evening begins in the gym at 6:30 PM. From 6:30-7:00 PM, the fifth and
sixth grade teachers will share information about the curriculum and some general expectations.
From 7:00-8:00 PM, families may visit the classrooms and drop off first day supplies.
Grades one through four: From 7:00-8:00 PM, families may visit the classrooms and drop off
supplies. Because there is a specific format for sharing curriculum information, there will be three
20-minutes sessions. Families should plan to spend 20 minutes in the classroom and then move on to
the classroom of their next child. Out of respect for others, the hallways should remain quiet so that
all can hear the presentations and ask questions. Experience shows that the first and second 20minute sessions are most crowded. Please plan accordingly.
“Bookstore” items – pencil pouches, canvas book bags, laddie pencils, etc. may be purchased that
evening in the school office.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – GRADES 1-8 - Wednesday, August 26
Students should report by 7:55 AM on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 to the grade appropriate doors
surrounding the school as indicated on the diagram in this packet. Remember to follow the traffic
plan for Wilber Ave. beginning with the first day of school. Regarding entering parking lots, one of
our own students came up with a helpful slogan: “If it’s not right, it’s wrong.” Only turn right in and
out of the lots and your children will be safer and you will be following the correct procedures. We
will have a full day of classes (7:55 AM-2:40 PM) beginning the first day.
Students need to pack a lunch on Wednesday, August 26. The hot lunch program begins on
Thursday, August 27.
Afternoon Extended Day Care will begin on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Morning Extended Day are
will begin on Thursday, August 27, 2015. Students must be registered for Extended Day Care in order
to attend.
Kindergarten and Preschool: Families of kindergarten and preschool students will receive a mailing
in August detailing the beginning of the school year procedures and schedule. Both programs begin
with a staggered schedule that allows for question and answer sessions as your child begins his/her
school year. Preschool classes begin after Labor Day. Kindergarten will begin with staggered
schedule on the first day of school – August 26. The first full day of kindergarten will be August 27.
Wilber Ave.
Office
“Old” Building –
Grades 7 & 8
Grade 3
door
Preschool, Kindergarten &
grade 5 door
“New” Building Preschool through Grade 6
Grades 4 & 6
door
Corrigan Gym
N
Grades 1 & 2
Door
Grades 7 & 8 door
Charles Ave.
W
E
S
Family Folders: Beginning Monday, August 17 family folders will be available for pick up.
Homeroom assignments will be on the family folders. We are changing from edline to Ascend SMS,
so we will not be able to post class lists on edline in August. Due to the busyness of that week,
homeroom assignments will not be shared over the phone. The school office will be open from
8 AM – 2 PM beginning the week of August 3.
Mass Attendance and Certificate Program: Sunday Mass attendance should remain a priority during
the summer months. Vacation from school does not mean a vacation from Mass. As the primary
educators of children, parents have an obligation to be role models of the faith.
Saint Charles Certificate Program continues during the summer months. Certificates are available in
the Parish Office weekdays from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to
7:00 PM. Full participation in the program helps keep the cost of tuition down. Get those grocery
and gas cards all summer long! Encourage friends and other family members to participate.
KEEP SAVING OVER THE SUMMER - - We will continue to collect the following next school year, so we would appreciate it if you would
save over the summer:
 Box Tops for Education
 Campbell’s Soup Labels
 Aluminum can tabs
 Tyson labels
Saint Charles Borromeo School Uniform Policy
As you purchase school supplies and uniforms, please keep the following school uniform code in
mind. Students will be expected to follow the dress code every day. Stay tuned to the parish bulletin
for the date of the summer PTU uniform exchange.
Preschool and Kindergarten boys and girls: Preschool and K students wear play clothing that is both
appropriate for school wear and weather conditions. School clothing should be different from “play”
clothes children wear for home play. Socks must be worn with shoes. Crocs and backless shoes are
not permitted.
For Students in Grades 1 – 8:
School Shoes and Socks:
 Tennis shoes will not be permitted as part of the regular school uniform except during the
cool down uniform days in August, September, May and June.
 A shoe with a moderate, rubber-soled heel (approximately 1 inch in height) is appropriate for
school wear. Shoes should be an “earthen” color (brown, black, gray, tan), no sparkles.
Platform shoes, leather boots, work boots, hiking shoes/boots, moccasins, open back shoes,
etc. are not permitted. Shoelaces should match the shoe and be tied.
 For comfort and general health, students should wear boots when there is snow on the
ground and change into regular school shoes upon entering school.
Sweatshirts/Sweaters:
 When students wear either sweaters or sweatshirts, they must wear a knit polo shirt also.
 Sweaters may be pullover or cardigan in style in a solid color of white, yellow, navy blue, gray,
or hunter/dark green only.
 The only sweatshirts that are permitted to be worn during the day in the building are Saint
Charles sweatshirts. No CYO sweatshirts may be worn inside the building during the day. For
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safety reasons, hooded sweatshirts and sweaters are not permitted to be worn during the
school day but may be worn for recess.
Students may not wear sweatshirts with the name and/or logo of neighboring Catholic grade
schools at any time during the school day (including recess). T-shirts from tournaments from
other schools should not be worn ever. Let’s not promote other Catholic elementary
schools – show your Wildcat pride at all times.
Fleece pullovers (quarter zip and full zip with side pockets) are available through Schoolbelles.
These fleece pullovers are permitted to be worn during the school day. Our school code for
shopping online is S0054. Look under “school specialty items.”
The Saint Charles jackets that were available for purchase through athletics during the
2012-13 school year are also permitted to be worn during the school day.
Students may wear a solid color turtleneck sweater under polo shirts that are white, pale
yellow, light/pale or navy blue or hunter green. These sweaters must fit correctly under a
polo shirt.
Students may wear, under polo shirts, a solid color long sleeve shirt that is white, pale yellow,
light/pale or navy blue or hunter green. These shirts must fit correctly under the polo shirt.
Jewelry:
 Girls only may wear one earring in each ear, post only - no dangles are to be worn.
 Students may wear one ring, one watch, and one religious necklace.
Hairstyles:
 Unusual, fad or extreme hairstyles are not acceptable.
 Dyed hair of an unnatural color is not acceptable. Hair colored, highlighted or lightened
during the summer months must be returned to natural color as of August 26, 2015.
 Boys’ hairstyles are to be neat and the length of hair may not exceed the collar in back nor
should it be covering the ears. Hair should not cover the eyes or be at a length in the front so
that hair needs to be pushed out of the eyes on a regular basis. If a boy is growing his hair to
donate for a wig for kids with cancer, the parent needs to contact the principal immediately.
 Girls’ hairstyles should not cover the eyes. A simple clip or ponytail holder can solve that issue
easily while in school.
GYM UNIFORMS: Kindergarten boys and girls do not wear a gym uniform.
Grades 1 – 8:
School T-shirt (gray) – ordered in the fall of each school year, must be purchased through school
Plain navy blue shorts – may be purchased at any store, appropriate in length – plain shorts are
available to order in the fall with t-shirts. A small company logo on shorts is acceptable. No stripes or
other decorations on shorts are permitted.
Physical educations socks and tennis shoes should be in good repair.
REGULAR UNIFORMS
GIRLS - Uniform Grades 1-8
 Students may choose to wear a plaid jumper, skirt, split skirt, or skort from Schoolbelles
Uniform Company (www.schoolbelles.com). School code for online shopping is S0054. Skirts
and jumpers must be knee length – no shorter than two inches above the knee. This will be
enforced. Skirt length is a matter of modesty for girls and young women.
This is two inches –
use it as a guide for
determining proper jumper
and skirt length. To the
knee or two inches above
the top of the kneecap is the
correct length – not shorter.
If need be, cut this square
and tape it to your
daughter’s knee to visualize
two inches.
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Solid color knit polo shirts (banded or unbanded) may be worn in navy blue, light blue, pale
yellow, hunter green or white. Be sure that the shade of green purchased is hunter green only
and the blue is navy or light blue, not royal blue. Unbanded shirts must be tucked in at all
times.
Socks, knee-highs, and tights must be a solid navy, hunter green, yellow, black or white. Socks
with stripes or other markings are not permitted (with the exception of a small logo from a
company). Stripes with a logo are not permitted. The short socks should be solid in color –
no stripes.
Dress slacks may be of uniform plaid, navy, black or khaki (as in the color beige or tan).
o Dress slacks may be like those purchased from Schoolbelles, which means that all the
pockets are on the inside of the pants (not sewn-on pockets).
o There may be no rivets (as in blue jeans), double stitching, loops, excess pockets (as in
cargo or carpenter style pants, or any facsimile of either).
o Slacks must fit properly – not baggy or too tight.
o A belt must be worn if pants have belt loops. A belt must be worn even with banded
polo shirts.
Corduroy pants that are navy blue or black may be worn. Belts must be worn with belt loops.
Make-up is not appropriate for school and may not be worn.
Nail polish and acrylic nails are not permitted except on dress down days and accent days.
Students may be asked to remove nail polish under the supervision of office staff.
BOYS - Uniform Grades 1-8
 Solid color knit polo shirts may be worn in colors of dark blue, light blue, hunter green or
white. Logos or other markings are not permitted on polo shirts. Shirts must be tucked in.
Only plain white t-shirts may be worn under polo shirts.
 Dress pants may be navy, black or khaki (as in the color beige or tan)
o Dress slacks do not have sewn-on pockets, which means that all the pockets are on the
inside of the pants.
o There may be no rivets (as in blue jeans), double stitching, loops, excess pockets (as in
cargo or carpenter pants), or any possibility of rip-off or zip-off legs, or facsimile of
either of these.
o Pants must fit properly - not baggy or too tight.
 Corduroy pants that are navy blue or black may be worn. Belts must be worn with belt loops.
 A plain black, brown or navy dress belt must be worn with all pants that have belt loops.
 Socks must be white, navy blue, hunter green, or black. No stripes are permitted. Small
company logos are permitted, but not stripes with logos.
Boys - Grades 7 & 8 ONLY
In place of solid color knit polo style shirts, students may choose to wear dress-collared shirts with a
tie. Flannel shirts are not included in dress shirts. All shirts must be tucked in.
Boys and Girls - Cool Down Dress Policy Grades 1 – 8
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During the months of August, September, May and June, the cool down dress policy will be in
effect. Cool down uniforms are an option. Students may choose to wear the regular uniform.
Students may wear navy or khaki dress/uniform walking shorts, like those purchased from
Schoolbelles or from the uniform section of major department stores.
o They should be of knee length or no shorter than two inches above the kneecap.
Anything shorter is not our school uniform and not permitted. See the two-inch box
in this information packet.
o There may be no rivets (as in blue jeans), double stitching, loops, excess pockets (as in
cargo or carpenter pants/shorts).
o All pockets are on the inside of the shorts (no sewn on pockets).
Belts must be worn with shorts that have belt loops.
Students may wear tennis shoes during the shorts option days. Tennis shoes should be one to
three colors (maximum). Tennis shoes may be worn with pants or uniform skirts during cool
down uniform months.
Clean, plain, solid white, hunter green, pale yellow, light/pale or navy blue, and black socks
may be worn with tennis shoes. NO striped socks. Small company logos are permitted, but
stripes with logos are not. Short socks must also be solid in color – no stripes.
Students must change into physical education uniforms on gym days.