Handbook for Students and Parents, 2008-2009

School Mascot: Ram
School Colors: Green/Gold

For your convenience, we offer the Student Handbook available for viewing here, or you may download the PDF version.

MISSION STATEMENT

In a nurturing environment and through the cooperative effort of families, teachers, and parish community, all children at Holy Rosary Catholic School will develop a sound foundation of Catholic faith along with an excellent base of knowledge that prepares them to be life long learners.

PHILOSOPHY

Holy Rosary Catholic School is a part of the teaching mission of Holy Rosary Parish. The parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children. The success of the teaching mission requires the teamwork of the principal, school staff, parents, priests, and children. Cooperation between these parties will guide the children in the teachings of Jesus, specifically in the areas of message, community service, peace, and justice.

Holy Rosary Catholic School is a living and growing faith community. As such, all persons involved strive to live according to the teachings of Jesus. Through a strong, clear witness to their faith, the staff models caring, confidence, perseverance, responsibility, teamwork, trust, and giving their personal best.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Religious Education, as stated in the Philosophy, is a joint effort on the part of parents, teachers, and the Holy Rosary Catholic Parish Community, as we enter into the mission of the Church in fulfilling the last recorded words of Jesus before His Ascension, “Go teach all nations…”

The Holy Rosary religious curriculum presents children with accurate and comprehensive religious instruction based on the following:

• Sacred Scripture and Tradition

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church (U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops – USCCB, 2000)

• The General Directory of Catechesis (USCCB, 2005)

• An Ageless Faith for a New Generation (Diocese of Evansville, Nov., 1999).

This curriculum offers daily religious instruction including Catholic doctrine, scripture, morality, lives of the saints, social justice, as well as preparation for Liturgy. Each year, the students at Holy Rosary Catholic School have a particular focus of study in terms of Catholic Doctrine and Tradition.

Kindergarten – God Loves Me
Grade 1 – The Trinity
Grade 2 – Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation
Grade 3 – Church and the Liturgical Year
Grade 4 – Commandments and Beatitudes
Grade 5 – The Seven Sacraments
Grade 6 – Old Testament
Grade 7 – New Testament
Grade 8 – The History of the Church

Religious formation goes far beyond the formal instruction of Catholic doctrine and traditions. It involves leading our young people to a life centered on Christ. This is where our partnership is essential. It is our belief that weekly participation in Sunday worship and the sacraments, as well as participation in the life and mission of the parish community, will enhance the effectiveness of our religious education program and build faithful Church leaders for years to come. Therefore, families are urged to worship together every Sunday and make a commitment to participate in the parish community.

During the spring and summer of 2008, members of the school and parish staff have taken a closer look at how we express our Catholic Identity through our words, behaviors and through the atmosphere and environment that we create around our campus. We are pleased to recognize the following areas in which we feel a strong sense of Catholic Identity:
At Holy Rosary, students and faculty/staff

• attend Mass one day a week and on special feast days and Holy days. Classrooms are given the opportunity to plan and serve as ministers at several school day Masses throughout the year. They may serve as lector, cantor, greeter, gift bearer, etc. Students in grades 5-8 are also invited to be Altar Servers.

• are invited to share their reflections on the Question of the Week which flow from the weekend liturgies.

• participate in special liturgies and prayer experiences for Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter, Catholic Schools Week and other special feast and holy days. These include The Living Rosary and The Stations of the Cross.

• begin and end the day with prayer and classrooms provide other opportunities to pray together throughout the day.

• celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent.

• participate in special grade level days of retreat in grade two through grade eight.

• observe statues and posters which depict Mary and the saints, the seasons of the church year, and other traditions and symbols of our faith.

• pray for vocations through their classroom participation in Vocation Cup program.

• pray for the needs of others through Family in Touch prayers and special intentions in class.

• participate in random acts of kindness and intentional service/outreach projects like the Giving Tree and Operation Rice Bowl.

As with any community we strive for continuous growth in our faith and expression of our Catholic Identity. To that end, we hope to enhance our appreciation for and reverence at liturgy, promote more service/outreach opportunities and work together to help Build God’s Kingdom.

ACCREDITATION

Holy Rosary Catholic School is accredited by the Department of Education, State of Indiana with a First Class Commission and is a member of the National Catholic Education Association and the Indiana Non-Public Education Association.

CURRICULUM OF STUDY

Holy Rosary Catholic School follows the Curriculum Guidelines established by the Department of Schools, Catholic Diocese of Evansville, and the Department of Education, State of Indiana.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Resolved, that it has been, is now and shall hereafter be the policy of Holy Rosary Catholic School that students of any race, color, sex, national and ethnic origin be admitted to all the rights and privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Resolved further, that we have not, do not, and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admission programs, grant-in-aid programs and athletic and other school-administered programs.

HOLY ROSARY FACULTY

All Holy Rosary Teachers are certified by the State of Indiana. The faculty includes 21 full-time teachers, including music and physical education instructors and a technology teacher/coordinator. Part time faculty includes an Art teacher for grades K-8, a resource teacher for all students, Kindergarten Assistant and a librarian.

Special needs of students are met by a part-time speech therapist, a band instructor, a part-time school social worker, a Catholic Charities counselor all of whom are shared with other area schools.

ORGANIZATION

Holy Rosary consists of a Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten Program, and two homerooms each of full-day Kindergarten through eighth grade. Grades K-4 are self-contained and grades 5–8 are departmentalized.

Holy Rosary provides after-school care on site as well as a Summer Camp program.

CLASS SIZE POLICY

Kindergarten will have a maximum of 20 students per classroom.
Grades 1-2 will have a maximum of 22 students per classroom.
Grades 3-4 will have a maximum of 24 students per classroom.
Grades 5-8 will have a maximum of 25 students per classroom.

SCHOOL HISTORY

Bishop Henry Grimmelsman, the first Bishop of the Evansville Catholic Diocese, being a strong supporter of Catholic education, wanted every Catholic child in the diocese to have the opportunity to receive a Catholic education. To further that goal, the Bishop began construction of several new parishes and schools. In 1950, Holy Rosary Parish was established with Monsignor Maurelius Bilskie as its first pastor. Under his leadership the parish grew from a small parish in the midst of cornfields and gravel roads to be the largest Eastside parish in the midst of Evansville’s suburban expansion. In 1950, Holy Rosary Parish began building its temporary church building. It was renovated in 1995 and it now houses the school’s computer lab, science lab and library. Holy Rosary Parish opened its school on September 8, 1953. Since that time, it has undergone several additions and renovations. In 1961, an additional eight classrooms were built; in 1988 another wing with a gym, kindergarten rooms, and office space was added; most recently, in 2001, the Children’s Center was renovated to provide space for preschool aged children. In 1953, Holy Rosary School was completely staffed by the Benedictine sisters from the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana. The school is now completely staffed by lay men and women; however the Benedictine tradition of “Prayer and Work” is still very much a part of the school’s tradition. Central to this school is its faith---the Catholic tradition. “Christ is the reason for this school.” In 1975, the first Mass was said in the new Holy Rosary Church. This church replaced the temporary church built in 1950. Liturgies are celebrated weekly in this church with the school children. The Church has become the symbol of our commitment to providing a Christian atmosphere in which to grow and learn.

HANDBOOK ORGANIZATION

This handbook contains information needed by both students and parents during the school year. The information reflects the requirements, policies, and procedures that are in effect as of the printing date. The school reserves the right to institute changes that alter any of the information. If during the school year, a situation arises that is not addressed in the handbook, the principal is empowered to implement procedure that supports the common good of the school community. The principal is also empowered to grant exceptions to any of the requirements, procedures, or policies set forth in this handbook. If the school makes changes or additions to any of the requirements, procedures, or policies set forth in this handbook, the changes or additions will be distributed in the parent packs and will be effective immediately.