Parents and Students
New Parent Primer
St. Peter’s Interparish School PTO
We, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) on behalf of
the faculty and staff, want to welcome you to St. Peter’s Interparish
School. It is our goal to make you feel comfortable as you become acquainted
with the school and its community of teachers, parents and administration.
Whether you are just getting over the shock of sending your toddler off to school, new to the area, or you just need more information, this primer is for you! It will guide you through some day-to-day operations of the school, offer you opportunities to get involved, as well as tell you about key school events and fund raisers. One of the best ways to get integrated into the school is to get involved, help out, and share the fun of your child’s school year.
GETTING IN THE LOOP
If you’ve got an extra 10 minutes in the morning, the playground time
just before school begins is a great way to meet other parents, touch base
with your child’s teacher, and stay in the loop.
Every Thursday, the school sends home the school newsletter (dubbed the “Gold Letter” because of its color) via your child’s backpack. It’s required reading for all parents and includes a calendar, short notes on happenings at the school, and a variety of attachments.
Make sure to check your child’s backpack every evening, but especially on Thursdays, when important communications from the classroom, the PTO, and the administration arrive home.
PTO meetings are another good way to get in the loop. Please try to attend these important meetings. You’ll meet other parents, learn more about what’s going on, and find opportunities to get involved. And, you earn volunteer hours just by attending! Babysitting and pizza for the little ones are provided.
DROP OFF and PICK UP
All children should be dropped off on the E Street side of the school. Mrs.
Klobukowski, our principal, helps ensure an easy transition from car to playground
or classroom. You can drop off and drive on. Drop off is
between 8:15 and 8:25 AM. Pick up is at 3:15 PM.
If you need to take your child to class, visit the office, etc, please park (legally) somewhere other than in the no parking/school zone area. This will help keep this stretch of E Street free for drop and drive. Make sure to always check in at the office.
Pre-K and K students go straight to their classrooms in the morning. First through 3rd grade students arriving between 8:15 and 8:25 are dropped off on the lower playground. Before care is available beginning at 7:30 am for $1 a day.
For the safety of our students we have a dismissal procedure now in place. In each new school year's welcoming packet for parents, each family is given a card with a number on it. This card should be placed in the windshield of your car. Cars will line up in single file on E Street. Please join the line by entering E Street from 6th Street by Turtle Park. We ask that there be no double parking and that you stay in your cars. Teachers with walkie-talkies will be on duty to call in numbers and students will be sent out and helped into the cars. Cars then pull out and the line moves up until all students have been dismissed. If you are walking, please tell one of the teachers on duty your number and s/he will see that your child is dismissed.
Students are required to cross the street at the light. “Waving” children across the street illegally is prohibited. It is important for parents to teach their children to observe safety regulations, including crossing the street at the corner with the traffic light.
Children may never be dropped off or picked up in the school parking lot or playground.
MILK TICKETS
Milk is purchased in advance through the school office. White and chocolate
milk is available.
FRIDAY PIZZA LUNCHES
Each year the eighth grade sponsors a series of Friday pizza lunches to fund
their annual class trip. Pizza lunch days are also free dress days for
the children. Look for an order form early in the year and give yourself
a break from packing lunch once in a while!
ROOM PARENTS
Each class has one (or more) parent who has volunteered to assist the classroom
teacher in coordinating classroom activities. This person will be an invaluable
source of information and will give you lots of opportunities to rack up those
volunteer hours.
SCHOOL SERVICE HOURS COMMITMENT
Parents are integral to the success of St. Peter’s School. Each parent
is expected to contribute a minimum of 10 service hours per year. Two parent
families are required to contribute 20 hours total. You have a second option
of paying a “School Service Fee,” of $250 per parent or $500 for
a two-parent family.
There are many opportunities for involvement, though, and we’d much rather than have your involvement than your dollars. Record your volunteer hours in the notebook kept outside the principal’s office.
Final report cards are held until parents meet their commitment, either by hours or by a check. The bottom line is, the School wants you, your talents, and your time much more than it wants you to pay a fee. So volunteer early and often. Be involved!
UNIFORMS
Uniforms are required in grades 1 – 8. The uniform policy is in the
Parent Handbook. The St. Peter’s t-shirts, sweatshirts
and sweatpants are all available, along with the required navy blue chino
shorts, pants, plaid jumpers, skirts, shirts, blouses, etc, through our uniform
company, Flynn & O’Hara, 110
Each Fairfax St. Falls Church, VA 22046, 703-533-7340.
Students are required to wear uniforms for field trips. Pre-K and K students just need to wear the St. Peter’s tee shirt or sweatshirt on field trip days, not the full uniform.
We also have a closet of used St. Peter’s uniforms near the staircase by the front office where you can buy pieces at very nominal cost. It’s great for getting that extra t-shirt or sweatshirt.
SCRIP
Scrip is an ongoing fundraising program for the school and has generated significant
funding. It was the major contributor to the purchase of the new playground
equipment. The school purchases “gift certificates” from
major retailers and grocery stores at a discount and then sells them to parents
and friends at face value.
Scrip can be used at dozens of retailers, including Giant, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Gap, Old Navy, Borders, Home Depot, Sears, and many more. We have over 50 retailers and restaurants to choose from.
Here’s how it works: if you’ll be grocery shopping at Giant this week, write a check to St. Peter’s PTO for $100. You receive a $100 Giant gift card. You purchase your groceries with this card and it works just like a debit card. St. Peter’s school receives a 4% profit on the $100. Some vendors pay up to 12% back to the school from scrip orders. You pay nothing more than you would otherwise; the store you purchase from contributes to St. Peter's school a percentage of your purchase.
Scrip is sold each morning on the lower playground from 8:15 to 8:45 and can be ordered through backpack express. Download and fill out the order forms, or find them usually attached to each week's Gold Letter.
LATE FEES
Make no mistake; you will be charged late fees if your tuition check isn't
on time (15th of each month ). The school is on a tight budget and timely
payments are important.
FIELD TRIPS, BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS
Each teacher sets the agenda and policies governing field trips and celebrations
of special events. Birthdays usually mean you can bring in cupcakes
at a designated time. Check with your child’s teacher for specific
instructions. The room parent usually helps coordinate and plan other
holiday parties with help from parents. To promote the spirit of inclusion,
birthday invitations should be sent to either the entire class or to all the
boys or all the girls within the class, if sent through school.
YEARBOOKS
Definitely NOT for 8th graders only! Every class, including Pre-K and
K, is featured, and you’ll really miss the great photos and quotes from
your child’s early school years unless you order a yearbook. Watch
the Gold Letter for order forms.
PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN NAP MATS
Nap mats are required for the pre-k and kindergarten classes and must
be purchased from the school for the cost of about $21.00. The reason
for the standardized mats is so that the classroom can store all of children’s
mats in a limited space. Your teacher will assist you with this purchase
at the beginning of the school year.
KEY EVENTS/FUNDRAISERS (see the PTO page for dates of this year's events)
Wrapping Paper
Our first fundraiser each year is gift-wrap. This popular fundraiser
typically brings in more than $6,000 for the school.
New Parent Coffee in the school library
Come meet Mrs. Klobukowski, PTO and Board representatives, and other new parents
and ask your questions.
Welcome Back to School Picnic
Come to this festive potluck and meet the other children and parents who are
part of the St. Peter’s Interparish School Community.
Back-to-School Nights
These evenings are designed to acquaint you with the overall academic
program of the school and what’s going on in your child’s classroom
in particular. Plan to attend.
Auction
This is the largest fundraiser for the PTO and a really fun evening as well!
There’s a fabulous dinner, live and silent auctions and dancing.
Bring your neighbors, friends and adult family members. It is
also a great place to do Christmas shopping. Book your babysitter now.
Christmas Program
This is a not-to-be-missed part of Christmas. The program, held in St. Peter’s
church, is a great celebration of this special holiday. A potluck dinner
follows in the church hall.
Science Fair
Participation in the science fair, a judged competition, is mandatory for
children in grades 6 - 8. The fair is held in St. Peter’s church
hall. A mini-Science Fair is held for grades 4 and 5 in March in the
school multipurpose room.
Spring Fundraiser March/April
One year it was pizza; another it was cheesecake, this year…? Stay tuned.
Yard Sale and Fun Fair
A Capitol Hill classic for the whole family! So don’t throw it
out — save it for our yard sale!
Field Day
This is a great day of relay and sack races, tugs-of-war, and other fun outdoor
events. Children from grades Pre-K and up participate in multi-aged
teams. A prime photo op — be there to cheer your child on!
The PTO would like to thank Lucia DiVenere for her time
and effort in producing the New Parent Primer each year.